Media Center

By Eric Hudson
Clayton News Daily
Published on: 08/17/06

Young, inexperienced drivers ages 16 to 24 have a higher rate of crashes, injuries, and fatalities than drivers over age 24 according to the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety.

The American Association for Retired Person shows a direct link between the kinds of driving problems experienced by older motorists and the physical changes that can occur in all older persons. The loss of vision, hearing and physical strength is gradual and can go virtually unnoticed until older drivers are faced with a driving emergency that they are no longer able to handle.

The Safe America Foundation, tries to change that by offering driving simulators to both younger and older drivers. The non-profit organization will be at the 13th Congressional District’s Health Fair this Saturday with simulators that could help these drivers become safer drivers.

Director of Media Relations Dave Garrison said, “It is a computerized program where the driver feels like they are in an actual car.”

Garrison said the program is different from video games because it is more realistic.

“In a video game, everything is an instant reaction. If you brake the car stops quickly. If you turn the car it turns sharply. This is more realistic. If you brake, the car doesn’t stop right away. You have to really control the car.”

He said through the simulator drivers can be placed in situations they may not have seen before.

“We can put them in all kinds of weather. We can put them on different kinds of roads and conditions that they wouldn’t normally encounter.”

The simulator, which comes complete with rear view mirrors, a hand brake and a seat belt can test a drivers different skills.

“Yea, it will let them know if they ran over the dog or whatever obstacle was in the way,” Garrison said.

Jennifer Bryant, who took a six-hour course on the simulator last year, said the simulator was both fun and helpful.

“I remember I was real excited,” she said. “I was 14 and it was the closest I could get to actually driving. Then when I did get to drive, I wasn’t as nervous.”

Some of the tips that The Safe America Foundation offers to teens include always wearing a seat belt, not drinking and driving, avoiding distractions and keeping tires properly inflated.

For more information, visit www.safeamerica.org.