The Montgomery County Schools Automotive Trades Foundation recently hosted a DriveSmart safety program at Edison High School in Silver Spring, where over 100 Montgomery County Public Schools automotive students used virtual reality and driving simulators to experience the dangers of distracted and impaired driving.
The hands-on simulations, quizzes, and student reflections highlighted the program’s effectiveness in raising awareness about the real-life consequences of risky driving behaviors.
After completing the simulation, one student reflected, “
I didn’t realize how big of an impact texting can have on the road. It was scary not being in control of my car and having a slower reaction time.”
Another student added,
“I didn’t think having a beer or something and driving would really do anything. Looking through the goggles and having everything slightly off was surprising.”
ATF President Harold Redden expressed his appreciation for the program and its partners:
“We’re grateful to MileOne and DriveSmart for creating such an engaging and impactful experience. We can tell our students about the dangers of distracted and impaired driving, but it doesn’t resonate until they experience it firsthand. These simulations offer a safe and controlled way for students to truly understand how dangerous impaired driving can be.”
