3,275 people were killed by distracted driving in 2023, which is why Harvey Gibbs DPT ’27 has been spearheading an annual event during Distracted Driving Awareness Event for the past four years.
The event was held on the GSU lawn, where a field of small orange flags was planted to represent those lost to distracted driving. More than 650 students attended, and many of them stepped up to try the Convincer.
After helping students put on their seatbelts, police officers released the seat of the machine, which traveled down a short, gently sloping track until it was stopped by a baffle. Many of the students were surprised by the jolt they felt even from the slow simulation.
“It really shows the repercussions of what can happen if you are distracted driving, such as being on your phone, not looking at the road – anything that takes your eyes off the road so you can’t focus,” Gibbs told WTNH.
Several police agencies were on hand with a variety of teaching tools to send the message about staying alert behind the wheel. The event was co-sponsored by the Connecticut State Police, the Enfield, Connecticut police department, Aramark Dining, and the UHart Office of Residential Life.