Above: PCC John Campion with Safer Roads Partnership Communications Manager, Anna Higgins
Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion has welcomed a pioneering virtual reality (VR) app to promote road safety.
Representatives from West Mercia’s Safer Roads Partnership visited the Commissioner to demonstrate the recently launched app, DriveVR. By immersing users, and literally putting them in the driving seat, DriveVR shows that split second decisions can have long and short term effects for drivers, passengers and pedestrians.
The app was created with the input of Police Cadets to be aimed at others of a similar age group. It is being delivered to around 5000 young people each year as part of the Green Light Programme, and focuses on common causes of road traffic collisions, including: speeding, mobile phones, drink driving, drug driving, passenger distractions, seatbelts, rural roads and pedestrian safety.
Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion said “Too many people are killed or seriously injured on our roads, in collisions which could have been prevented. Education is vitally important to ensure everyone understands the impact of making a decision which puts road users at risk. I am keen to ensure that resources continue to be in place to change people’s perceptions and behaviours in order to prevent collisions on our roads.
DriveVR is an excellent example of a forward thinking approach. I hope it will continue to be a success, helping to making our roads safer.”
Anna Higgins, Communications Manager at the Safer Roads Partnership said “We’re really pleased to launch DriveVR and promote road safety messages to young people in a much different and much more innovative way than we ever have before, through a virtual reality app. DriveVR has already been downloaded almost 2000 times and we’re pleased to have the support from Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion in helping to raise awareness within our communities even further.”
To download DriveVR and for more information visit their website.
Issued: Friday 31st March 2017
