Virtual Reality Technology Gives Students a Realistic and Harrowing Look at What a Car Crash Can Look Like

Students experience virtual reality car crash as part of new road safety campaign

Road Safety Campaign Photo

Tim Butler, Director of Services, Kilkenny County Council, Garda Aiden Fitzpatrick, Cathaoirleach Cllr. Peter "Chap" Cleere, Teresa Mahon, Kilkenny County Council, Garda Kieran Scanlon, Juvenile Liaison Officer, Mr. Tom Clarke, Principal CBS, Mr. Ger Morrissey TY Co-Ordinator and transition students from the CBS at the launch of the Visual Reality(VR) technology.

Kilkenny County Council , An Gardai Síochána and Avia has launched a new Virtual Reality (VR) technology campaign to be rolled out to schools in Kilkenny as part of an attempt to increase road safety awareness among future drivers.
Transition Year students from the CBS school in Kilkenny were given VR headsets which placed them in the passenger seat of a car that crashes into another vehicle as a result of dangerous driving.
The video appears to show one of the people who is in the backseat severely injured, as they go through the front window as a result of not wearing a safety belt.
In a very realistic video, you are in a car with other young people going along a country road, while the driver shows messages on his phone to the passengers in the back, and is not paying full attention to the road.
You then lose all visibility on the video. The lights come back on, and the paramedics have arrived to try and salvage the situation, while others in the car are left bleeding and upset.
Mr. Tim Butler, Director of Services, Kilkenny County Council believes the use of this technology could prove to be extremely beneficial in ensuring that young people are aware of the dangers of driving without care.
Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council Cllr Peter 'Chap' Cleere said "any initiative which encourages people, particularly young people, to behave more responsibly behind the wheel is to be welcomed," he praising the council for the safety awareness initiative, which is backed by Aviva Driving School and An Garda Síochána."
Garda Kieran Scanlon Junior Liaison Officer said: "this is a great opportunity to use technology to demonstrate to young adults the impact of poor driver behavior. Learning from mistakes is something you can't afford to do on the road because one mistake might be one mistake too far - you only have one life. This experience should ingrain the vital message of road safety into the minds of young people."
TY students commented that you really had the feeling you were in the car and acknowledged the danger of driving without due care. Thanks to the CBS Kilkenny for facilitating the first demonstration in Kilkenny and in particular Ger Morrissey, TY Co-Ordinator.

Kilkenny Promotion Logo
Kilkenny slogan: Come See Come Do