Crash course gets young drivers' attention

It doesn’t take much for a driver to have a “textident,” according to Distractology 101, a hands-on tool to teach new drivers how texting, emailing, snacking or other distractions can lead to car accidents.

The high-tech simulated program, run in a 36-foot long, neon-yellow mobile classroom, is a project of the Arbella Insurance Group Charitable Foundation. The mobile classroom spent the week at Partners Insurance Group’s Mizher Insurance agency at 350 Wilbur Ave., where it put the texting brakes on 84 new drivers, most of them teenagers.

“It helps kids become safe drivers,” said Cheryl Curt, vice president of Insurance Operations for Partners Insurance Group. “It’s part of our commitment to the community.”

A student, someone who has been driving for three years or less, climbed into the simulator and experienced driving with a videogame-style, panoramic view of the road. The simulator threw in pedestrians crossing the street, motorcycles running stop signs and other obstacles that happen in real-world driving.

The student learned that the only way to avoid an accident is to be constantly alert.

“I think it makes them more aware of the rules of the road,” said Distractology 101 tour instructor Topher Paone.

About 20 percent of injury crashes in 2009 involved reports of distracted driving, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. And the age group with the greatest proportion of distracted drivers was the under-20 group.

Part of the program included filling out a questionnaire. Paone said half of the new drivers who have taken Distractology 101 admitted to texting while driving at least sometimes.

Brooke Couto, 18, who finished driving in the simulator on Friday, said she has texted while driving in the past.

“Texting and driving is very bad,” Couto said.

David Gray, 18, a student at Somerset-Berkley Regional High School, has been driving for a year and a half. He said his parents sent him to the course.

“It was cool to use the simulator,” Gray said. “It definitely raises awareness.”

Each new driver who completed the simulated course received a certificate, and those who were insurance customers also got 7 percent off their premiums.

The driving simulation tour is based on Arbella-funded researched conducted with the University of Massachusetts Amherst. It was designed to lead a safety movement to educate new drivers about the dangers of distracted driving and change behaviors. It has been traveling to communities in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island.  

To learn more, visit www.distractU.com.

Email Deborah Allard at dallard@heraldnews.com.