Safety Council demonstrates new impaired driving simulator

Simulated Impaired Driving Experience, or SIDNE, is a battery-powered vehicle that simulates the effects of distraction and impairment from alcohol or texting. The Nebraska Safety Council along with the Nebraska State Patrol and area law enforcement agencies were demonstrating SIDNE in the parking lot at Scottsbluff High School Friday morning.

Mary Weich is a Driver Education Coordinator with the Nebraska Safety Council. She told KNEB News that she is out promoting it now as part of a grant that targets counties that have a high percentage of DUI related accidents. She said Scotts Bluff County has one of the highest percentages, but they are hoping to change that through education.

SIDNE will be on static display at the Scotts Bluff County Fair tonight (Friday) . The Nebraska Safety Council trains over 10,000 students in driver improvement courses and over 3,000 students in workplace safety programs.

In Nebraska, teen drivers in 2011 were involved in 13% of crashes where alcohol involvement was a factor. They were involved in 27% of all crashes that involved cell phone distraction. This demonstration helps the SIDNE driver experience first-hand the potentially deadly consequences of delayed reaction on their driving skills.

© 2013 Rural Radio Network. All rights reserved. Republishing, rebroadcasting, rewriting, redistributing prohibited. Copyright Information