by Christina Siebold
posted October 21, 2003
) Photo by Christina Siebold Ooltewah High freshman Felicia Scott operates a driving simulator in the Safely There exhibit. Click to enlarge all our photos. |
The tour added Chattanooga to its scheduled stops after Judy Appleby of MAKUS participated in Continental Teves’ national press conference in July which introduced the Safely There tour.
The exhibit is designed to educate the public on the company’s Electronic Stability Control system which is designed to help vehicles avoid dangerous situations that could lead to crashes.
“We are elated to get the opportunity to have the Safely There tour stop at Ooltewah High School,” said Coach Stan Sumrell, instructor of the school’s Alive at 25 driver’s education program. “The students have really been looking forward to it and I think it will help open their eyes to the responsibilities of driving.”
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is a system that can electronically detect impending vehicle danger like a wheel lock up or loss of control. ESC is designed to regulate the engine speed and apply brakes to the appropriate wheels to allow the driver to maintain vehicle control.
“It helps your car go where you tell it to go instead of where gravity wants to take it,” said Jeremy Page with the Safely There tour. “But even with this technology, kids still have to drive safely. It doesn’t drive for you.”
Before entering the simulator truck, each group of students heard a brief talk from Judy Appleby. Dozens of conversations with hundreds of students, and each one started the same way.
“I’m here today to tell you about my son, Michael, who was a great kid. But Michael made a bad choice one day by not wearing his seatbelt. The car he was driving went off the road and flipped, then landed on top of him. I got there in time to see Michael under the car. That vision will never leave my mind.
“Michael is dead. His life was over in a split second and my life will never be the same because of a bad choice.”
Mrs. Appleby wiped away tears after every presentation. “I know it’s been two years, but it sure doesn’t feel like it,” she said. “It hurts just as much today as it ever has.”
After encouraging each teen to be a role model by buckling up every time they’re in a vehicle, Mrs. Appleby sent the students to the exhibit truck.
Three interactive stations allow the kids to experience driving with, and then without, safety features like anti-lock brakes and rollover protection.
Then the students experience the next generation of safety technology in the exhibit’s mini-movie theatre which features a hydraulic motion simulator that rocks the theatre seats in conjunction with the on-screen driving.
The teens shrieked and laughed on the Disney-like ride, but left the theatre talking about whether or not their dream car could be updated with the ESC technology.
“Kids love the simulators,” Mr. Page said. “And if we can teach them something about safe driving while they’re enjoying themselves, we know it will stick with them longer.”
) Photo by Christina Siebold Ooltewah High students watch, and ride, the 3-D motion simulator movie during the Safely There tour visit at the school on Tuesday. Click to enlarge all our photos. |
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