Virtual reality promotes road safety to young drivers
Thursday, 13 July 2023
Immersive VR headsets used to show the consequences of careless driving to young drivers. Aims to improve road safety behaviours and reduce road-related collisions.
By simulating challenging and potentially dangerous situations, VR headsets engage the driver's emotions, showing them what it actually feels like to be in the front seat of a car once it’s crashed.
According to government statistics, young drivers aged between 17 and 24 are statistically more likely to be involved in a road collision than any other age group, and the main causes are either ‘reckless driving’ or ‘failing to look properly’. Which is why our Road Safety Education team is using a new, innovative immersive method to promote safer driving to young drivers.
The team plays an important role in spreading the message of road safety to all road users. It's recently procured new immersive virtual reality (VR) headsets to give users a realistic insight into the dangers of speeding and driver distraction.
The VR headsets will be going out to schools, events, and open days across Central Bedfordshire, with the hope of improving road safety behaviours in young people to reduce road-collisions.
When using the headsets, pupils will be seated and taken to a virtual world where they experience a realistic car journey. The video will highlight several safety issues before showing them what it actually feels like to be in the front seat of a car once it’s crashed. By simulating challenging and potentially dangerous situations, VR headsets engage the driver's emotions, creating an impactful and memorable learning experience.
Speaking of the technology and experience Councillor Simon Ford, our Executive Member for Highways and Waste, said:
Using new technology and VR headsets is a great way to engage with young drivers about road safety and hopefully improve driver behaviour.
We want young drivers to learn how serious and frightening an accident is in real life and that’s why the VR headset is so good. It’s very realistic, you think you’re in the car and can experience what it’s like, which will hopefully have an impact on how people behave in the future.
Whilst we are starting with young drivers, the team is working hard to find new videos to promote to other road user groups such as motorcyclists, cyclists and older drivers.”