In an effort to combat distracted driving, Allstate is launching a national tour this month with its Reality Rides simulator. In its third year, the campaign builds awareness about the dangers of distracted driving and offers tips and information on how to be safer behind the wheel.

Reality Rides features a real but stationary car equipped with virtual reality technology that displays a responsive animated environment on a curved LED television embedded in the windshield. Using the steering wheel, gas and brake pedals, the driver is tasked with driving while also attempting to text, talk on the phone and enter navigation system directions, Allstate said in a statement. Participants are given traffic “tickets” that reveal potential infractions a driver could receive if the experience happened in real life.

After experiencing the Reality Rides simulation, participants answered a survey that gauged the campaign’s reach in changing their road safety opinions:

• 6-in-10 said they would “never text and drive,” and nearly one-third said they would “think twice about texting while driving.”
• The majority of participants (58 percent) said they will not let others drive distracted or they will inform others of the dangers (almost 35 percent).
• A vast majority (92 percent) said they are less likely to ride with others who text or are distracted while driving.

“Educating drivers about safety has long been a commitment for Allstate,” said Steve Sorenson, executive vice president of product operations at Allstate Insurance Co. “More than a decade ago, we began to build awareness of how distractions in the car could become driving dangers. Today, our Reality Rides simulator provides an impactful way for drivers to learn firsthand how significantly distractions can affect their ability to drive safely.”