Itasca, IL - The National Safety Council Greater Omaha Chapter and State Farm are proud to bring the Drive Square Simulator, the first such simulator of its kind, to Nebraska. The Drive Square Simulator is an educational tool that will generate awareness about the hazards of distracted driving. It is also the first such machine to be owned by the National Safety Council.
“The Drive Square will be a critical tool in distracted driving education across the state. We are grateful to our Drive Square sponsor, State Farm, for their contribution to our mission of making our roads safer,” said Kay Farrell, National Safety Council of Greater Omaha president.
The Drive Square simulator enables a trainee to drive in a virtual space while operating the controls of an actual vehicle. The simulator is meant to demonstrate the impact that distractions, like talking or texting on a cell phone, can have on a person’s ability to drive safely. The National Safety Council Greater Omaha Chapter is taking the simulator on a tour to malls and schools to make it available to as many drivers as possible to build awareness of the dangers of distracted driving.
Because nearly one in four crashes involve cell phone use, the National Safety Council suggests the following if tempted to use a cell phone when driving:
- Change your voicemail greeting to indicate you are driving and will call back when safely parked.
- Put your phone in your trunk or glove box.
- Turn your phone on “silent.”
- If you need to contact someone, pull over to a safe location and put your vehicle in “Park” before dialing.
If you would like to schedule an opportunity to bring the Drive Square simulator to your event or school, please contact Kay Farrell at 402-898-7344, kfarrell@safenebraska.org.
The National Safety Council saves lives by preventing injuries and deaths at work, in homes and communities, and on the road through leadership, research, education and advocacy.
View photos from the launch.