Today’s post comes to us from fellow ignition interlock provider, LifeSafer.
We all talk about the dangers of drinking and driving, but how do we really know how dangerous the effects of alcohol can be unless we’ve experienced it for ourselves? Okay, we know what you’re thinking. We’re not encouraging anyone to drink and drive. But, there is a way to simulate the experience without taking a sip of alcohol.
The Ford Motor Company in Europe created a unique driver awareness campaign that would be useful for showing drivers all around the world the negative effects of drunk driving. The product? A suit designed to simulate what it’s like to drink alcohol and get behind the wheel.
The suit contains different items to create the experience: goggles to distort vision, noise-reducing headphones to alter the driver’s hearing and weights to slow down reaction times and limit hand and eye coordination. To put the suit to the test, Ford had a sober driver wear it as she drove a Ford Fiesta through a closed obstacle course.
Before even making it to the course, the driver found herself struggling with basic tasks like walking a straight line or catching a ball. Behind the wheel was where the effects were multiplied. The driver had difficulty navigating the course, performing basic driving tasks and driving to the best of her abilities.
After analyzing the test results, Ford was confident that the suit would influence people to not drink and drive. They’ve decided to take their campaign all over Europe and share it with the younger generations.
Simulated tests like this one prove that even if you’ve only had one or two drinks and are still below the legal limit of .08 blood alcohol level; drinking alcohol before driving can severely restrict your driving ability. The safest option remains the same for any driver (and surrounding drivers): don’t get behind the wheel after drinking any amount of alcohol.
April is Alcohol Awareness Month