On the Road: Virtual teen driver training system to help Jacksonville students

Oct. 10--Factors that cause a crash are obviously many, ranging from alcohol and speeding to lack of safety belt use and other driver behavior, but federal statistics compiled by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety provide some interesting numbers involving young people.

The fatal crash rate per mile driven for teens 16 to 19 is almost three times the rate of drivers 20 and over.

So as high schools enter the busy fall season with homecoming games, full sports schedules and other events, National Teen Driver Safety Week is set for Oct. 21 to 27. At least one local high school has a new piece of technology to teach young drivers after Coker Law donated a virtual vehicle to give them a hands-on feel.

The Apex Virtual Vehicle is a bucket seat tied to a triple-screen wide-view monitor and customizable driving simulator, and it is giving interactive hands-on driving experiences to hundreds of students at Jacksonville's Wolfson High School, as seen in this video at vimeo.com/292787355. The simulator offers a controlled learning environment with feedback and evaluation of safe driving techniques as it demonstrates roadway environments, hazards and challenges.

Apex's website says the system highlights "safety awareness with mobile devices, multitasking and impairment" and can be set up to mimic a passenger car, bus or truck, with manual or automatic transmission. Students working toward their learner's permit can "drive" the simulator without the dangers of being on the road.

"Our goal is to teach safe and smart driving techniques from the very start in order to prevent these tragedies from happening," Coker Law partner Matthew Posgay said. "... Research shows that immaturity and inexperience are primary factors, leading to high-risk behavior behind the wheel: driving at nighttime, driving after drinking alcohol and driving distracted."

The Apex Virtual Vehicle was developed by former racer-turned-educator Trish Johnson. The unit will target about 125 ninth-grade Wolfson students who turn 14 or 15 this school year. It will be the only source of driver's education available for free to Wolfson students, who now pay for the community driver education course offered after school since statewide budget cuts saw school day programs cut.

Principal Christopher Begley called Coker Law's donation through its Safer Streets Through Smarter Drivers campaign "truly lifesaving and very appreciated."

Meanwhile, for those already on area roadways, here's news from state and regional transportation officials.

--At 4:30 p.m. Oct. 25 the Florida Department of Transportation will have a public meeting to discuss the proposed improvements to Florida 21 from the Putnam County line to north of Commercial Circle in Keystone Heights. Portions of this resurfacing project are in Bradford, Clay and Putnam counties and are designed to widen the paved shoulders, improve lighting within Keystone Heights town limits and add mid-block crossings as part of the town's Streetscape project. Signal and pedestrian improvements at the intersection with Florida 100 are also being proposed. The two-hour meeting is at Keystone Heights City Hall at 555 S. Lawrence Blvd.

--The North Florida Transportation Planning Organization, the independent regional transportation planning agency for Duval, Clay, Nassau and St. Johns counties, is developing "Path Forward 2045" to identify projects to meet the region's mobility needs through 2045. TPO officials estimate the North Florida region will have more than 2 million residents by 2045. So the agency is hosting an online survey to get public feedback on issues to help determine how mobility needs are met and incorporated into the final plan. The survey is open through Nov. 30, part of a project undertaken every five years as the TPO revises the area's transportation plan with road, transit, freight, bike, pedestrian and new transportation technology.

"It is our goal to have as many North Florida residents as possible participate," North Florida TPO Executive Director Jeff Sheffield said. "Our community's input and support will have a significant impact on transportation planning in our region."

To access the survey link, go to pathforward2045.com with the password "Survey." For more information on the planning organization, go to northfloridatpo.com.

Have any traffic questions? Email me at dscanlan@jacksonville.com.

Dan Scanlan: (904) 359-4549

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