FGCU students get virtual texting-and-driving lesson

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SAN CARLOS PARK, Fla. — Multiple car crashes took place Wednesday on the campus of Florida Gulf Coast University — but none of them actually happened.

Students took virtual texting-while-driving tours as part of an event designed to show the dangerous and sometimes deadly consequences of distractions at the wheel.

“Now that made me positive that I don’t want to do that,” FGCU student Shelby Myers said. “I was about to hit so many people, and I was like, that’s not good.”

FGCU student government and AT&T collaborated on the event, and WINK News anchor Britni McDonald was one of many who took part in the driving simulations. McDonald and others pledged never to text and drive after experiencing fatal consequences in virtual reality.

“Just one quick glance at a smartphone can change your life or someone else’s life,” AT&T spokesperson Karen McAlliser said.

Texting-and-driving is considered a seconary offense in Florida, carrying a $111 fine. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office said these sorts of events may be more effective in keeping people off their phones than the fine already in place.

“This kind of virtual reality definitely speaks to their language, and I think that made a tremendous difference in their thought process about whether they’re going to text and drive as opposed to it’s a $111 fine,” said Lee County Sheriff’s Office representative Alan Canfield.

AT&T’s “It Can Wait” campaign goes all over the country with five stops in Florida. Their next event is Friday in Tampa.

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