What This Simulator Is
The Rule the Road Virtual Reality Driving Simulator, presented by Alliance Highway Safety, is an educational experience delivered through an Oculus headset. It places participants in a realistic driving environment where they can safely experience how impairment and distraction affect perception, reaction time, and judgment.
Rather than relying on lectures or videos alone, the simulator allows participants to learn through experience in a controlled and guided setting. The focus is on awareness, reflection, and safer decision-making.
This simulator is designed for education and outreach and does not require any prior virtual reality experience.
Getting Started
Accessing the Rule the Road VR Application
Follow the steps below to launch the application within Meta.
Press the Meta button on the right-hand controller.
From the main library screen, select Menu, then choose Unknown Sources.
Locate and select the Impaired Driving Simulator application.
The application will launch and is ready for use.
If the application does not appear immediately, ensure the headset is fully powered on and return to the Unknown Sources menu.
How the Simulator Works
Once launched, the Rule the Road Virtual Reality Driving Simulator guides users through a short virtual driving experience. Participants encounter realistic visual and auditory cues designed to demonstrate how impairment or distraction can influence driving behavior.
The experience is intentionally brief and focused. It is designed to be impactful without being overwhelming and works well as part of a facilitated discussion or educational activity.
Application Settings and Features
The simulator includes adjustable settings to support different learning goals and participant needs.
Start
Begins the virtual driving experience
Settings
Allows facilitators to adjust the experience.
Audio
Adjusts sound and noise levels.
Visual
Controls visual elements of the experience.
Distracted Settings
Phone and radio distraction options.
Impaired Settings
Lens distortion, motion blur, and vignette effects.
Environment
Day and night driving settings.
Video
Selects introduction and crash sequence video options
Demo Mode
Allows users to test drive the simulator without full effects enabled
Quit
Exits the application.
