DEARBORN — On February 5, students from Fordson High school spent the entire day learning about the effects of distracted driving. Activities included speakers, driving simulators and under the influence goggles to encourage students to avoid reckless driving and driving while impaired.

The car simulation was the main event of the day, in which Ford Driving Skills for Life also brought in a state trooper.

“I feel like the simulation was one of our favorite things we did for the students to learn from,” said Alex Elamine a Safer Driving Task Force committee member from Fordson. “Yet, a lot of students were taking it as a game or challenge at first.”

As students pulled out their phones, every possible accident that could possibly occur did occur in the simulation, unless students were completely off their phones.

“Maybe then students were able to take it to the heart and more deeply understand the dangers,” Elamine said. “Not everyone can be a Superman and multitask. That was the greatest message they could take from it.”

During the simulation event, students Ali Dabaja and Jamil Rkein shared their personal story and spoke of their injuries as a result of a vehicle accident.
A message the event shared was to drive with more care and think of the other people on the road.