Rockland Adds Driving Simulator To Fight Distracted Driving

From the Rockland County Legislature: The local effort to fight a dangerous driving trend just got a big boost: a new machine that allows people to learn about the potentially fatal consequences of driving while texting.

Rockland County Legislators Toney L. Earl and Aron Wieder joined Rockland County Sheriff Louis Falco and Chief of Patrol William Barbera for the introduction of the new driving simulator – and guests who tried it out all ended their drives in the same way: crashing while attempting to text.

The results were no surprise to Sheriff Falco.

“Texting while driving makes it six times more likely to have a crash than drinking while driving,” Sheriff Falco said. “Texting while driving is equal to having four drinks while you’re driving. It’s dangerous and potentially deadly. If you don’t want to hurt or kill another driver, a pedestrian, your passenger or yourself, then don’t text or drive.”

Said Legislator Earl, “Unfortunately, many young drivers do not understand the dangers of driving while texting because they are still so inexperienced behind the wheel. This machine will increase their awareness and I know this project will contribute to saving lives.”

Funding for the new $26,525 machine was provided by the Rockland County Sheriff’s Office via an assett forfeture account, the Rockland County Legislature and the Rockland County Traffice Safety Board, which conducted a three-year fundrasiing effort.

Officials cited the Billy Kayser Foundation for its support. Billy was a Pearl River High School student when he died. A foundation in his name raises funds to carry out good works in the community.

“This is an important educational tool that will allow students to experience a crash without actually being in a crash,” Legislator Wieder said. “The hope is that they’ll understand the dangers involved with texting and other forms of distracted driving and make the smart choice to keep their focus on the road.”

Chief William Barbera, who helped direct the effort to buy the machine, the first purchase of its kind by a local Rockland law enforcement agency, said the goal was to obtain more so they can be taken to every local high school.

Distracted driving killed 3,477 people and injured another 391,000 in 2015, according the latest statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Overall, distracted driving was responsible for 10 percent of all fatal crashes and 15 percent of injury crashes in 2015, according to the NHTSA.

In addition to the texting-and-driving simulation, the machine also has a driving-while-intoxicated module that will be used by the Rockland County Stop DWI Program.

The driving simulator will also be brought to local police agencies to train officers on emergency vehicle operations.

The Rockland County Traffic Safety Board is a not for profit (501c3) organization. To donate toward additional simulators send an email to doug@katzinsurance.com, write to 455 Route 304 Bardonia, NY 10954, or call (845) 638-6008.

Image and video via the Rockland County Legislature: The Rockland County Sheriff's Chief of Patrol William Barbera shows County Legislature Chairman Toney L. Earl the new safe driving simulator, with Legislator Aron Wieder and Sheriff Louis Falco also joining in the unveiling of the equipment that will be used for teaching youth about the dangers of texting, drinking and other distractions while driving.