March 21, 2016 at 4:19 p.m.
Eyes on the road
Teens learn about distracted driving at 'Kids on the Go' event
Eyes on the road
By Kayla Thomason-
About 100 children and parents tried a distracted driving simulator during the first hour of the Kohl's Kids on the Go Distracted Driving Event at the Rhinelander Kohl's store.
"One of the biggest reactions (to the simulator), I think, (is at first) it looks pretty simple 'Oh, it's just like it's a video game,' but once they actually try it out they realize the handling of it is a little bit more difficult. They think that 'Oh, I can multi-task just fine' when they go to do it they realize 'OK, it's a little bit more difficult than I thought,'" program coordinator Taylor Wilke said.
During the simulation, a passenger incessantly, the driver attempts to send text messages, dogs and pedestrians cross the street, and other vehicles move in and out of the driver's line of vision, creating a perfect storm of distractions.
"The passenger is the biggest distraction, he will talk to the driver the entire time," Wilke said. "For teens, that is one of the biggest types of distractions, conversation with passengers, just because of the inexperience and they are engaged in that conversation."
At the end of the simulation the driver learns how much damage he or she caused and how much he or she would owe fines.
Insurance costs and hours of work needed to pay off the fines are also included in the final tally.
"I thought (the simulator) was really interesting," said 13-year-old Anastasiya Goetz.
During her simulation the passenger talked nonstop, it was twilight and she had a minor accident with a parked car. She said she was surprised by the cost of the fine, the damage to the car and the cost of insurance.
It was an eye-opening experience, she said.
"I think it's really cool because you don't get this opportunity a lot and if you come here I strongly suggest to take it," she said.
Her mother, Renee Goetz, was glad her daughter had a chance to experience the simulator before she gets behind the wheel for real.
"I thought it was very eye opening to someone that's going to be driving in the future, all the things that can happen, distracted driving," Goetz said.
She said she has stressed the importance of not texting or calling while driving and she practices what she preaches. She said she doesn't use her phone in the car.
Goetz suggested the simulator be part of driver's education.
Participants got goodies such as a thumb ring which the driver wears as a reminder to not text and drive, a rubber bracelet which can also be stretched over a cellphone so the driver will have a reminder if they reach for their phone, a little zipper bag to place a phone in so the driver won't access it, and an air freshener.
"Thanks to Kohl's and Ministry Health for bringing this here and letting us try it out," Goetz said.
All children 13 and older had the opportunity to try the simulator.
The program is a partnership between Ministry Saint Joseph's Children's Hospital and the Kohl's Department stores through sales of their Kohl's Cares Merchandise at the Rhinelander, Wausau, Stevens Point and Eau Claire stores.
Kayla Breese may be reached at [email protected].
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