Distracted driving simulation at Fort Hays serves as caution

Graham Swartzell takes Distracted Driving Simulation Test at FHSU's Memorial Union Friday. — Graham Swartzell takes Distracted Driving Simulation Test at FHSU’s Memorial Union Friday.

By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post

Fort Hays State University’s Tiger CLAWS — Campus Leaders Advocating Wellness for Students — wants to remind the community of the dangers of distracted driving. To help drive that home, the group recently brought the “Save A Life Tour” to FHSU’s Memorial Union.

The Safe A Life Tour travels the country with a simulation machine mimicking texting and driving.

“I see too many of our students and too many people in general … being a danger on the road while they are texting and driving,” said CLAWS adviser Bob Duffy, noting the recent conviction of southern Kansas women whose distracted driving caused a fatal crash near Pratt. (related story)

Anthony Lawrence, SAL road manager, said the simulator, which looks like a racing video game, will allow an operator to drive with text messages rolling in every 30 seconds.

Roger Immell, FHSU junior said his reaction was slow as he took the DUI simulation test. — Roger Immell, FHSU junior, took the simulation test mimicking drinking and driving. He said his reaction time slowed as the test’s “DUI level” increased.

Graham Swartzell, FHSU junior, took the test and offered this advice about texting while driving: “Just don’t.”

Swartzell described his experience in the simulator.

“At first, it was not hard to keep things going fairly straight on the road,” Swartzell said. “Then the moment I had to starting looking at the (texts), things immediately fell apart. I lost control and ended up clipping a car.”

Lawrence said Swartzell’s reaction is not uncommon, and he hopes the simulator’s lessons stick with people for a lifetime.

“Every single state we go to, we see texting and driving … so it is just a really important message to get across so (people) can make that forward progress towards change,” he said.

Lawrence advises putting a picture of a loved one on your phone’s lock screen as a reminder nothing on a cellphone is as important as your life or the lives of others.

The simulator also offered a test that demonstrated the dangers of driving while intoxicated.