Drugs and alcohol are a big temptation for people young and old alike, and impaired driving is a top cause of vehicle-related deaths. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as many as 18 percent of automotive deaths annually can be attributed to drug use. But with the new Ford Drugged Driving Suit drivers have a way to learn about the effects of drugs on their driving before they end up one of those statistics.
Read More: Seven Driving Tips for Teen Drivers
The Ford Drugged Driving Suit simulated the effects of drugs like marijuana, cocaine, heroin and MDMA. Using special goggles, weights, sounds, and other technology, the suit offers a real-time experience of the effects of drugs, which aren’t always noticed when a person actually is under the influence, leading to car accidents.
What Makes Up the Ford Drugged Driving Suit?
Developed by a team of scientists and engineers from Ford and the Meyer-Hentschel Institute in Germany, this suit has multiple pieces that work together to simulate the complete disorientation and lack of motor skills that can happens when taking drugs.
Some parts of the suit include:
- Glasses that create blurred vision and tunnel vision
- Headphone which play random sounds to distract
- Bandages at neck, elbows, and knees to restrict movement
- Weights irregularly positioned around the body to throw-off movements
- A tremor generator to simulate hand shakes
Read More: Ford Driver Assist Technology Which Keeps You Safer on the Road
The Ford Drugged Driving Suit will be used in the Ford Driving Skills For Life program. There was a Drunk Driving Suit previously used in this program to help young drivers learn safely about the dangers of these substances. It’s good to see Ford taking step toward helping young drivers learn their limits and create better drivers for tomorrow.
Check out the video below to see the effects of the Drugged Driving Suit on a professional driver and a new driver.
