Unique Ford Suit Helps Teach Effects Of Drugged Driving

Ford Motor Company has created a unique suit to dramatically teach young people about the dangers of driving under the influence of illegal drugs.

Ford developed the suit together with scientists from the respected Meyer-Hentschel Institute in Germany to simulate some of the effects of drugs such as cannabis, cocaine, heroin, and MDMA (commonly known as Ecstasy); including slower reaction time, distorted vision, hand tremors, and poor coordination.

The new Drugged Driving Suit will be incorporated into Ford Driving Skills for Life, the young driver program that has provided training to more than 500,000 people around the world since its inception 11 years ago.

Recent national data shows drugged driving on the rise. According to the most recent findings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately 18 percent of all motor vehicle driver deaths involve drugs other than alcohol, such as marijuana and cocaine. A NHTSA roadside survey also found that 22 percent of drivers tested positive for illegal, prescription or over-the-counter drugs.

Like the Drunk Driving Suit that Ford incorporated into the Driving Skills for Life program last year, the new Drugged Driving suit simulates the effects of reduced mobility, vision, and coordination with padding and ankle weights, goggles, and headphones. An infographic of the suit and how it mimics impairments can be downloaded by clicking here.

According to the 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately 9.9 million people 12 and older reported driving under the influence of illicit drugs. Similarly, a meta-analysis of multiple studies from the National Institute of Health has shown that the risk of being involved in an accident roughly doubles after marijuana use.

Further details about the Ford Driving Skills for Life program is available online at www.DrivingSkillsForLife.com.

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