This activity is designed to use the DIES Distracted Mat® and the Fatal Vision: Drowsy and Distracted Goggles together to illustrate the dangers of driving distracted on a miniature roadway. These items can be requested from your regional rep. Participants will experience what it is like to walk “blindly” when the goggles are activated, simulating looking away from the roadway the same amount of time a person would while texting.
Items Needed
DIES Distracted Mat®, Steering Wheel and stop signs
Fatal Vision: Drowsy and Distracted Goggles and traffic signs (Stop and Go)
Fatal Vision Phone App (download from App store)
Steps
Before conducting activity, download the Fatal Vision: Drowsy and Distracted App available in App store and review instruction videos.
Charge goggles to ensure that battery is fully charged and synced with mobile phone App.
To set up DIES mat, lay out flat and place stop signs throughout mat. Have traffic signs ready as well to be used.
Undistracted: Have teens drive through course with once without goggles. Teens should be instructed to “drive” through course, staying on streets, stopping at any stop signs and also watching for stop and go signs that will be flashed by person facilitating the course.
Distracted: Once they have completed one go, they will return to beginning of mat and put goggles on. Facilitator will use phone to activate “distracted” mode and have them complete the course again.
Discussion questions:
What did the group observe compared to the first and second walk?
How can distracted driving affect a drivers ability to stay in their own lane?
What could be the potential consequences?
Did the participant have a hard time walking when it was dark?
Did they miss things that they didn’t miss the first time around?
Take pictures to send to us and post on social media and your website.
Complete an activity form for TDS All-Star points.
Make it GREAT
Distracted driving takes a person’s eyes off the road. The goggles simulate an amount of time between 3-6 seconds, which when traveling at 55 mph, a person can drive the length of a football field! Remind your peers that driving distracted is like driving with your eyes closed and very dangerous.
Have a timer before and after distractions to show how a person’s speed is affected when doing the course.
Have people who are watching count the number of times a person drives off the road or missing signs.
