Connecticut the Focus of Federally-Funded Three-Year Driver Simulation Research Study
Study part of comprehensive effort by state to combat high number of crash-related teen injuries and deaths due to lack of experience.
El Dorado Hills, Calif.—September 2, 2008—Virtual Driver Interactive (VDI), provider of driver improvement and simulation systems for corporations and communities, today announced the use of its virtual trainers in several Connecticut high schools as part of a three-year driver simulation study.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration's Emergency Medical Services for Children program awarded a targeted issues grant worth $750,000, to a team of researchers at Connecticut Children's Medical Center's Injury Prevention Center. Heading up the study is Dr. Brendan Campbell, MD, MPH, director of Pediatric Trauma, Connecticut Children's Medical Center, Hartford, and a member of the Governor's Task Force on Teen Safe Driving.
"We know that simulation increases the ability to scan and recognize hazards," said Kevin Borrup, JD, MPA, project manager of the study and director of the Injury Free Coalition for Kids of Hartford based at Connecticut Children's Injury Prevention Center. "We now want to know if that translates into less car crashes. Our hypothesis is that it will decrease crashes by 20-25 percent."
Borrup added that the Injury Prevention Center at Connecticut Children's work over the last year—thanks to support from the Allstate Foundation in raising awareness about teen driving safety—led to the development of this research study.
The study team will collect citation and crash information and will compare the records of teens who used driver simulation and those who did not. Twelve schools throughout the state will host VDI virtual trainers for three months in the 2008-2009 school year. If the project succeeds, sponsors hope to secure additional funding to put them in all of Connecticut's high schools and to evaluate the impact simulation training has on overall teen crash rates and fatalities.
"There are 500,000 teen injuries and 6,000 teen deaths every year due to inadequate driver training in this country," said Bob Davis, president of VDI. "We are honored that our systems were chosen for this study as Connecticut is taking serious steps to combat these unacceptable losses."
VDI's 12-lesson program helps teen drivers improve driving skills by creating realistic scenarios essentially putting the in dangerous situations without putting them in danger. VDI has already partnered with parents and organizations across the country who want to redefine driver's education for the 21st century, making simulation part of a nationwide solution.
About Connecticut Children's Injury Prevention Center
Injury Prevention Center is a program of Connecticut Children's Medical Center. The Injury Prevention Center was founded in 1990 and has become one of the premier institutions researching how and why children and youth suffer injuries, and what can be done to prevent them. For more information, please visit www.ccmckids.org.
About Virtual Driver Interactive
Virtual Driver Interactive (VDI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Raydon Corporation, provides driver improvement simulation training to corporations and public education facilities across the country. VDI's curriculum and simulation systems teach the proven, defensive driving techniques taught by the American Driver and Traffic Safety Education Association (ADTSEA). The company currently offers two driver training systems: the Virtual Defensive Driving course (Virtual DDC), a driver improvement course; and StreetReady, designed for novice drivers. VDI is headquartered in El Dorado Hills, Calif. For more information about VDI, please visit the company's Website at www.driverinteractive.com or call 877-746-8332.
Dianna Bari
db media
P: 310-295-2671
E: d.bari@dbmediarelations.com
For more information about Virtual Driver Interactive, log on to http://www.driverinteractive.com or call (877) 746-8332.
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