Drugged driving suit educates risks of impaired driving
A sleek pair of goggles and neck weights are being put on a man at Palm Springs Motors. It’s not for any specific workout though, but an exercise in education.
“The simplest task seem very challenging.”
Trent Hanna is the sales manager at the dealership and is trying out a drugged driving suit from Ford. It’s part of the company’s Driving Skills for Life tour.
The different components meant to simulate someone impaired on drugs and alcohol, through the use of pads, weights, and headphones. It teaches young people the dangers of driving under the influence of illegal drugs such as cannabis, cocaine, heroin and MDMA (commonly known as Ecstasy).
“What your normal mobility is, you’re hand eye coordination is severely impaired,” Hanna said. “I wouldn’t want to do anything in it.”
It comes at a time when tens of thousands of festival goers are expected to hit the roads for Coachella, many of them having fun at parties.
According to the 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately 9.9 million people 12 and older reported driving under the influence of illicit drugs. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that approximately 18 percent of all motor vehicle driver deaths involve drugs other than alcohol, such as marijuana and cocaine. And another NHTSA roadside survey found that 22 percent of drivers tested positive for illegal, prescription or over-the-counter drugs.
“No one should be out on the road in that condition or even close to that condition,” Hanna said. “We have so many of the alternatives for transportation, take full advantage of that.”
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Noticias en español: Telemundo 15
