For Immediate Release

Thursday, March 22, 2018

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Hull High School Students Test Driving Skills in Distractology Van

HULL — Hull High School students got a chance to perfect their driving skills last week after completing a distracted driving simulation.

During the week of March 12, more than 60 young drivers got behind the wheel of the Distractology Van to test their abilities to avoid distractions while on the road.

The National Occupant Protection Use Survey reports that at any given time, there are 660,000 distracted drivers on the road. To date, drivers who complete the Distractology course are proven to be 19 percent less likely to have major/minor accidents and 25 percent less likely to get traffic violations.

Participants sat in the simulation for 45 minutes each, getting a firsthand experience of how distractions interfere with their ability to react on the road, see hidden hazards and avoid accidents.

While “driving,” students encountered distractions like a ringing cell phone, spilling a drink, eating, or adjusting the radio, and soon learned how quickly accidents can occur even when they took their eyes off the road for just a few seconds.

After the simulation, students finished their training by completing a short, online interactive video reinforcing what they learned in the trailer. They walked away with a deeper understanding of the negative effects of distracted driving and a $15 gas card.

“This was a great opportunity for students to learn the dangers of distracted driving in a safe environment,” Principal Paula Girouard McCann said. “After completing the real-life simulation, the hope is that participants will have a renewed commitment to keeping their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel at all times.”

Hull High School administrators are grateful to Sullivan, Garrity & Donnelly Insurance Agency in Cohasset, which the Arbella Insurance Foundation — an organization that sponsors Distractology and aims to end distracted driving — selected to host the learning experience at HHS.

The Distractology van was created based on research conducted by the Human Performance Lab at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

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