Texas A&M Distracted Driving Simulator
Texas A&M's Passenger Safety Initiative aims to demonstrate to high school and college students the dangers associated with texting while driving. Currently, they use a 360-degree video to highlight the risks of distracted driving, but while it has an emotional impact, it lacks the hands-on experience, personalized data, and randomness that can be achieved through virtual reality with a driving simulator. To create a greater impact, Abstract developed an interactive VR Driving simulator that allows users to experience the hazards of distracted driving firsthand. This Virtual Reality solution was built using a gaming engine, a driving simulator rig, and the Oculus Rift. In the simulation, drivers are required to pick up their cell phone and respond to text message prompts using a handheld controller while driving. They must navigate without crashing into cars, curbs, or encountering any unforeseen events. The system tracks the user's head movements to distinguish between when they are focused on their phone and when they are watching the road. Following the initial version's success, Texas A&M chose to further develop a second version. This update introduces a distracting passenger scenario where an animated character engages the driver in conversation. It also features a scenario involving highway speeding and braking to highlight the risks of tailgating while driving at high speeds.