Brownsville police debut distracted driving simulator

BROWNSVILLE, Tenn. — Statistics show texting behind the wheel is one of the leading causes of deaths among teenagers in the United States. But a new tool in Brownsville is looking to put the brakes on that.

Students grip the steering wheel of what looks like an arcade game, but it is no game.

“It’s just like driving in real life in Memphis or Jackson,” said Lt. Mark Covington with the Brownsville Police Department. “Where you have all these things happening, you have road blocks and things in the roadway.”

It is the Brownsville Police Department’s new Distracted Driving Simulator, a first of its kind in West Tennessee.

“Our goal is to teach the kids not to text and drive and not to be distracted drivers,” Lt. Covington said.

The simulator is as real as it gets — you take out your cell phone, text the given number and then head off into the crowded city.

“While you’re doing that, it will be constantly sending you text messages and so it will keep you occupied,” Covington said.

While you’re trying to reply back, even more obstacles come out of nowhere.

“You’ll have pedestrians at crosswalks, dogs coming out in the street and even cars that are pulling into your lane,” Lt. Covington said.

It is not an “if” you crash, it is a “when.” The machine then shows you the consequences, everything from court fines to a hospital visit.

“It is something that kids are enjoying, so that’s making them want to do it,” Covington said. “Which in turn is helping them to see what the problem is and why they shouldn’t do certain things.”

Brownsville police said they will be bringing the simulator to schools and events across West Tennessee. It was paid for through a more than $10,000 grant from the Governor’s Highway Safety Office.