Virtual Driver Interactive Unveils ONE SIMPLE DECISION Allowing Participants to "live through" the Consequences of Distracted or Impaired Driving

State agencies, universities, community colleges, health care facilities, and law enforcement professionals wishing to implement the system have limited time to apply for 2010 grant funding

El Dorado Hills, Calif.—November 15, 2009—Virtual Driver Interactive (VDI), provider of engaging and compelling simulation systems for all aspects of driver safety, today unveiled One Simple Decision (OSD), a simulation program like nothing else available today, targeting impaired and distracted driving behaviors.

Unlike VDI’s traditional novice and experienced driving simulation programs that are designed to teach students correct driving skills, OSD is designed to modify driving behavior by illustrating the consequences of choices made behind the wheel. Through the combination of driving simulation, intense interactions and first-person consequences videos, students are immersed in an intense, 20-minute experience that forces them to “live through” the results of the decisions they made while driving. Designed for drivers between the ages of 15 and 24, One Simple Decision “hits where it counts” with consequences that affect their money, friends, physical health, career aspirations and their freedom. 

OSD specifically addresses distraction driving including texting, cell phone use, peer distractions and other electronics. Equally important, OSD explicitly provides information and experiences that deal with impairments including alcohol, legal/illegal drugs and fatigue. The experiences are developed and delivered in conjunction with the generous cooperation of the Sacramento County Court, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department, UC Davis Health Systems, Calstar Shock Trauma Air Rescue, The Sacramento Bee and Sutter Roseville Medical Center.

“Sacramento County is always looking for innovative and effective ways to keep citizens safe,” said Ron Brazell, Motor Officer with the Sacramento County Sheriff Department. “Taking part in the creation of One Simple Decision is an effort to make clear to young people, the consequences of distracted or impaired driving.” 

The highly portable simulation system is a completely unique new category of technology product—one that blends together the latest gaming graphics, first person HD video scenes that include an actual DUI checkpoint arrest, intake into county jail, court sentencing, helicopter trauma response, ER triage and more. Throughout the experiences, are interactive questions about the students’ attitudes and beliefs. The answers are then accessible to the sponsoring agency through a secure internet portal providing immediate and insightful data collection opportunities.

Can They Make Better Choices?

Although the prefrontal cortex, responsible for reason and judgment, is the final part of the brain to fully form around the mid-twenties, the human IQ is fully formed at an early age and remains fairly constant throughout life. This means teens are not “destined” to make poor choices and that they are fully capable of making right decisions if properly informed of the consequences. Some teens may still choose to make a poor decision but it can be a fully informed decision nonetheless.

A Better Approach

“Most existing programs that hope to influence younger drivers involve brochures, catchy slogans or golf carts with drunk goggles,” said Bob Davis, president of Virtual Driver Interactive. “Driving a golf cart is simply really fun and they don’t read brochures.  But there is nothing fun about being arrested or losing your license. The fact that we had personnel from law enforcement and emergency rooms participating in this program, speaks volumes as they all want to combat this issue.”

State safety organizations that want to make a difference in 2010 by deploying this system will need to move quickly to submit grant requests and secure a budget. In many states the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, the Office of Traffic Safety or the Department of Public Safety have all been powerful and supportive groups focused on reducing impaired and distracted traffic trauma across the country.

About Virtual Driver Interactive

Virtual Driver Interactive (VDI) provides engaging and compelling simulation systems for all aspects of driver safety. By offering a wide range of system hardware options, VDI’s customers can expect highly portable, affordable and effective solutions. Simulation titles include “One Simple Decision” a deterrent to distracted or impaired driving; StreetReady, a structured novice driver program measuring and teaching key skills; and the Virtual DDC defensive driver improvement course for organizations that wish to improve the safety of their employees.

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.

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