Distractology 101 Teaches Tewksbury Students Safe Driving

Throughout the week, students at Tewksbury Memorial High School get the chance to use the the state-of-the-art Distractology 101 simulator to experience first hand the dangers of distracted driving. 

Distractology 101 is an interactive program developed by the Arbella Insurance Foundation to teach new drivers the dangers of distracted driving using a 36-foot-long, neon-yellow mobile classroom outfitted with high-tech driving simulators designed to give new drivers the chance to experience the perils of distracted driving, including texting while driving.

Dick Insurance Agency of Tewksbury teamed up with Arbella Insurance to bring the course to Tewksbury Memorial High School, something that owner Brian Dick said he was hoping to bring back to Tewksbury in the future. 

"With the response we got, getting 100 percent booked up after the first day, the challenge for me is to bring it back to Tewksbury in the future," Dick said. 

Dick, also chairman of the Tewksbury School Committee, said he was able to watch his son use the simulator earlier in the week. 

"I'm a parent and to see what happens when they start texting during the simulation and get into an accident makes your stomach drop a little bit," Dick said.

Dick said students with a license or learners permit who participate in the course are also offered a free gas card, as well as the possibility of receiving a deductible on their insurance premium.

While students sat in the simulators, Distractology Instructor Topher Paone would instruct them on what speed to drive as well as when to pick up their cellphones to simulate a real distracted driving scenario. 

"I think everyone understands the importance of something like this," Paone said. "It's better to break bad habits when you're young."

The simulator presents students with eight different scenarios, including one practice scenario.

Approximately 90 Tewksbury students will have participated in the simulator by the end of this week.

"At this age, driving is still new to them and they are still kind of learning how to do it, but being able to go through it in a simulation makes it easier to understand the dangers that go along with it," Paone said.