Nearly 200 Students To Participate In Safe Kids Virtual Distracted Driving Experience At Career Tech Center
MUSKEGON: Muskegon Area Career Tech Center (MACTC) students will learn how dangerous distractions can be for road users during an augmented reality experience taking place at the MACTC, Monday, March 18, 2019 from 8:15 a.m. to 10:20 a.m. 12:00 p.m. to 2:05 p.m. Safe Kids West Michigan and MACTC Criminal Justice students will host four sessions of the Augmented Reality Distracted Driving Education Simulator (ARDDES) experience to advocate for all road users to eliminate distractions while driving, biking, and walking. Visuals will include students in the Augmented Reality Vehicle and an assembly with a speaker from the PEERS Foundation.
Distracted driving is the number one cause of fatalities in ages 16 to 29. Smart devices and activities like texting while driving have caused driver fatalities to rise at unprecedented levels. Safe Kids West Michigan and Criminal Justice students from the MACTC are working together to raise awareness, promote safe driving, and encourage safe behaviors for all roadway users.
“This campaign shows the students the dangers of distracted driving and the awareness of the situation,” shared Criminal Justice student and Fruitport High School senior Molly Michelli. “We hope the students take their actions while driving into consideration to make driving safer for everyone.”
The ARDDES system uses a real vehicle with technology that places a virtual world in the windows of the vehicle. This allows drivers to safely experience distractions like texting, checking social media, or using vehicle features like the radio or navigation system while driving. The ARDDES experience is sponsored by Safe Kids West Michigan and a grant from the Strive for a Safer Drive campaign put on by MACTC Criminal Justice students. Safe Kids West Michigan works to prevent unintentional childhood injury, the number one cause of death for children in the United States. Safe Kids West Michigan is a member of Safe Kids Worldwide, a global network of organizations dedicated to preventing unintentional injury. Safe Kids West Michigan was founded in 2001 and is led by Mercy Health. For more information, visit safekids.org or www.facebook.com/safekidswestmichigan
ARDDES is a product of the PEERS Foundation, a non-profit organization that seeks to empower youth to build health, successful lives by using innovative and interactive learning interventions.
To learn more about the Muskegon Area Career Tech Center’s Criminal Justice program or one of the fourteen other programs available to Muskegon Area juniors and seniors visit muskegoncareertech.org or call 231-767-3613.