Texting and Driving Simulator

What is this?

This project was built using several technologies: UDK, Unrealscript, Unreal Kismet, a C++ DLL, Flash, Scaleform, 3ds Max, Photoshop, Android Studio and WiiYourself.

This driving simulator was built to illustrate the risks of driving while texting. The idea behind it is to quantify and evaluate if/how the attention levels and reaction times of a driver suffer when using a mobile device. To achieve this, the simulator does three short tests.

First, a Baseline reaction test where three random text messages are sent to the user's mobile phone. The user must reply to these messages, and the simulator records a baseline.

Second, a Driving test. Here, the user only needs to complete the circuit.

Third, a Texting and Driving test. In here, the user must both drive the vehicle correctly and reply to SMS messages in time.

What do we do with this data?

Once done with the tests, the simulator will display a set of results. These will graphically and quantitatively show changes in reaction time between the last two tests. See the results below:

Results page - Path comparison.

Results page - Text message data.

Results page - Speed comparison.

There are three difficulty levels, these modify things such as:

• The amount of text messages the driver has to respond
• The maximum time the user has to respond to messages.
• The difficulty of the track and terrain.
• Harder levels force a minimum vehicle speed.
• The visibility of the track. Below is an example of how the difficulty affects visibility.

High visibiliy - Daytime.

Medium visibiliy - Afternoon.

Low visibiliy - Night.

The result is a simulator that reflects the consequences of driving a vehicle while interacting with a mobile device.

Gallery