Using virtual reality to put the brakes on dangerous driving

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A Chevy Camaro parked inside Springfield Town Center in Fairfax County on Sunday let shoppers test whether they are safe drivers.

The traveling exhibit is part of the from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) to promote pedestrian and bicycle safety.

“We use a virtual reality component that鈥檚 immersive so you can see and teach yourself at any age about traffic safety,” says Kelvin Ford with Street Smart. “When they start the simulation, they see normal streets and also cyclists, pedestrians, and motorists. And you have to be vigilant and look out for the risks.鈥�

Dozens of shoppers stopped to put on the VR headset and test out the simulation. They got to navigate local roads virtually, but had to spot every walker and biker.

鈥淚t was actually insanity. It was really fun,鈥� said one driver. 鈥淚t was lowkey hard. It was hard.鈥�

鈥淭here are more blind spots than you think,鈥� said another driver. 鈥淔rom this, I would be more conscious when I鈥檓 approaching an intersection. Not just what鈥檚 in front of me, but what鈥檚 on my left and what鈥檚 on my right.鈥�

Shoppers at Springfield Town Center in Fairfax County got to test their safe driving skills using virtual reality. (海角精品黑料/Linh Bui)

The traveling exhibit is part of the Street Smart campaign from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments to promote pedestrian and bicycle safety. (海角精品黑料/Linh Bui)

Dozens of shoppers in Springfield Town Center in Fairfax County stopped to put on the VR headset and test out the simulation. (海角精品黑料/Linh Bui)

Shoppers got got to navigate local roads virtually with the simulator, but had to spot every walker and biker. (海角精品黑料/Linh Bui)

The goal of the Virtual Reality Challenge is to encourage drivers, pedestrians and cyclists to look out for one another and keep our roads safe. (海角精品黑料/Linh Bui)

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Josh Thelin with Street Smart urges drivers to pay attention at crosswalks or when passing a cyclist. He says to even make eye contact.

鈥淒istracted driving is a major problem in this country right now,鈥� Thelin says. 鈥淕etting people to focus on driving, and especially at those intersections and problem areas, is just one way we can start saving peoples鈥� lives because people are killed all the time in this area just crossing the street.鈥�

According to COG, 115 people were killed by drivers last year while walking and biking in the Metropolitan Washington area. The organization reports that pedestrian and bicyclist deaths account for more than 30% of all traffic fatalities in the region.

The goal of the Virtual Reality Challenge is to encourage drivers, pedestrians and cyclists to look out for one another and keep our roads safe.

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