ODOT Reminds Drivers: “Stay Alert to Stay Alive Behind the Wheel".
Drivers can test their ability to drive while distracted or impaired by taking a spin on the Ohio
Department of Transportation’s new Distracted Driver Simulator at the Grandview Heights High School
on April 7th, 2014. Sponsored by Nationwide Insurance, the simulator tour is stopping at safety-related
events statewide to help combat distracted driving, including cell phone use while driving.
The Distracted Driver Simulator is part of ODOT’s comprehensive roadway safety campaign “Every
Move You Make, Keep It Safe” which aims to educate Ohioans on how to use the roads safely –
whether behind the wheel, behind the handlebars or on foot. “Distracted driving is dangerous and has
serious – even fatal – consequences,” said ODOT Director Jerry Wray. “In particular, cell phone use while
driving is very risky and our new simulator tour will show Ohioans the real dangers and consequences of
distracted driving.”
In 2011, Ohio law enforcement agencies reported 33 fatalities, 450 serious injuries and 12,958 crashes
that were attributed to distracted or fatigued driving. “Every time you take your eyes off the road – even
for just a few seconds – you put your life in danger and you put others in danger too,” ODOT District
Deputy Director said.
Crashes cost Ohioans nearly $13 billion a year. About 40% of all serious injuries in Ohio occur at
intersections. And, more than 50 percent of all fatalities involve roadway departure crashes. These
crashes occur when drivers and riders leave the road and hit fixed objects such as trees and utility poles,
or they leave the travel lane and sideswipe another vehicle or hit it head on.
“Each year distracted driving accidents account for millions of dollars in damages and countless numbers
of lives,” said Officer Scott Hiles. “The Grandview Heights, Division of Police wants drivers to understand
that every time they talk or text behind the wheel they are making a choice that could have devastating
and irreversible consequences.
ODOT’s new safety campaign is linked to the state’s overall goal of reducing roadway fatalities 5 percent
by 2015. With nearly 300,000 crashes across Ohio in 2010 and more than 1,000 deaths, ODOT could help
save 150 lives on Ohio’s roadways. The distracted driver simulator experience challenges the participant
to navigate city streets and highways while talking on the phone, sending a text message and listening to
passenger conversations