Manitoba Public Insurance is taking its anti-distracted driving “Your Last Words” campaign to the next level.
Tuesday, they unveiled a texting and driving simulator to show motorists the dangers of distracted driving. The simulator sends scripted texts to participants who respond via their smartphone while encountering vehicles, intersections and obstacles. When participants are finished, they see their driving errors and have the option to pledge to not text while driving.
According to MPI, almost 5,000 Manitobans are convicted each year for using a hand-held electronic device while driving. In Manitoba, on average one in four road fatalities are linked to distracted driving.
The actual car will be taken to various community events in the province for people to get behind the wheel. The simulator is also available online on you computer and will be added to MPI’s driver education curriculum.
