Toyota to provide virtual drunk driving experience

NAGOYA October 6, 2006; Japan Today reported theat Toyota Motor Corp said Thursday it will offer a virtual experience of driving a car under the influence of alcohol for visitors at its safety training center at Fuji Speedway circuit in Shizuoka Prefecture.

The program will be available from Wednesday in addition to current road-safety programs provided as part of the company's efforts to reduce the number of car accidents as a result of drunken driving, which has become a serious social issue recently.

The new course involves the wearing of specially designed goggles that impair a driver's sense of distance and peripheral vision, resulting in steering and other vehicle-operation judgments that mimic those often made under the influence of alcohol.

This simulated "drunk driving" experience is available to both private and corporate participants. in "mobilitas" safety-driving programs.