SIDNE® (Simulated Impaired DriviNg Experience®)

Simulated Impaired DriviNg Experience®, or SIDNE®, is a battery-powered vehicle that simulates the effects of impairment from alcohol and other drugs on a motorist’s driving skills. This highly interactive vehicle operates in two modes, normal and impaired. In Normal Mode, the vehicle’s steering, braking, and acceleration respond appropriately. In Impaired Mode, the vehicle reacts with delayed steering, braking and acceleration, simulating the effects of a vehicle being driven by an impaired driver.

The program instructor has complete control of SIDNE® through the use of an infra-red remote control. The remote operates from a distance of up to 75 feet, allowing the instructor to change the vehicle between normal and impaired mode, perform emergency braking, select the speed mode between 4 mph and 8 mph, and power off the vehicle. The lesson provided by SIDNE® is clear. Participants experience with a sober brain how it feels when reaction time is slowed and they are unable to make a turn or stop, even when they have ample time and space. This experience helps the SIDNE® driver to identify first-hand with the potentially deadly consequences of alcohol and other drugs on their driving ability. Influencing your audience to consider alternative choices to impaired driving begins with engaging your audience in a meaningful experience and discussion about personal responsibility and the consequences of choice. SIDNE® is tool that helps you accomplish that task.

We’ve made significant improvements to SIDNE® 6.0. The chain drive has been replaced by a belt drive delivering a smoother start up and the riding noise level has dropped significantly. SIDNE® now has active braking! This means greater stopping power and emergency braking for SIDNE®. We’ve paid attention to the smaller details as well. The pedal box is now shorter, making it easier to operate the accelerator and brake pedals. We’ve also moved the reverse switch to the top steering wheel. And we’ve added extensions to the seat belts making it easier for riders and passengers to buckle up!

 

 

We periodically encounter customers who tell us about their impaired driving prevention program using a standard golf cart and Fatal Vision. From the stories we hear, most of these programs have been very positive from the perspective of creating a memorable and meaningful message on the dangers of impaired driving.

 

S.I.D.N.E.  (Simulated Impaired DriviNg Experience) came about after we observed some potentially dangerous situations involving golf carts.  Because of our commitment to excellent impaired driving prevention programming and safety, we decided to develop a safe way to demonstrate the dangers of impaired driving that didn’t involve using a golf cart.

 

SIDNE offers a realistic simulation of driving a car.  Features that contribute to this include:

 

We have engineered SIDNE from the ground up for the safe delivery of your impaired driving prevention message.  Its low center of gravity makes it very stable and prevents rollovers.  For added safety, a roll bar for the unlikely event of a rollover and two ELR (Emergency Locking Retractable) seatbelts in case of a crash.  We have added three separate options for emergency stops – a handbrake for the driver; the transmitter with the Brake button; and a power switch on SIDNE’s receiver collar.  All of these allow for power to be cut and stop SIDNE safely and immediately.

 

In addition, we deliver a half day training session for your SIDNE crew to learn about SIDNE’s features and to practice delivering your new SIDNE program.  This session helps prepare staff to react properly to different scenarios while operating SIDNE.   More than half of the session is spent on the course practicing with SIDNE.  Participants learn how to:

 

Your awareness message is clear, the student experiences how it feels when reaction time is slowed and they are unable to make a turn or a stop, even when they thought they had ample time.  This demonstration helps the SIDNE driver to experience first hand that their skills do not improve or stay the same when impairment delays their reactions.