SIDNE Do’s and Don’ts

Do charge SIDNE batteries immediately after usage. Also charge the batteries every thirty days during periods of low usage. (Exercise caution when working with the batteries.)

Don’t hesitate to call us with SIDNE questions.

Do ask for a digital copy of our SIDNE Logo for use in your Programs or on a trailer. We only require that you sign our SIDNE Trademark License agreement confirming that your use of our SIDNE Logo is not used for profit. Contact Jamie Stebbeds (jamie.stebbeds@fatalvision.com) for a copy of the agreement to review.

Don’t use the Emergency Brake handle as a support or push off point when getting in or exiting SIDNE or this may break the handle.

Do use the side rail bar and the back of the padded seat as support for getting in and out of SIDNE. The instructor would be happy to give the participants a helping hand as well.

Do consider a SIDNE Charging Adaptor for your SIDNE. This allows you to charge your batteries when they are out of SIDNE. Please see our catalog for details or contact us for more information.

Don’t drop your transmitter. The switches could be broken or damaged.

Do use a lanyard with your transmitter as a safeguard to prevent it from dropping accidentally.

Do drive SIDNE on a level, paved, barrier free surface.

Do have a Contingency Plan to move inside should bad weather force a cancellation of your Outdoor SIDNE Program.

Do consider ‘Field Sobriety Tests’ with Fatal Vision goggles for large Programs to keep more participants occupied during your Program.

SIDNE in Action!!!!

SIDNE has attracted media coverage from various locations around the world. Here are a few media clips that show SIDNE in action, making a difference in their communities. As you will see from the reactions of the participants- an experience with SIDNE can be a catalyst for a decision that will save someone’s life.

If you are a SIDNE owner and have other SIDNE clips to share, leave a comment and let us know!

SIDNE and Distracted Driving

Have you been guilty of Distracted Driving? If your answer is no – while driving, have you ever…?
-Talked or texted on a cell phone
-Tuned the radio or CD
-Eaten, drank, or smoke
-Picked something up from the floor or between the seats
-Read or written a note
-Reached for the glove compartment
-Cleaned the inside of the windshield
-Argued with another passenger
-Combed or brush your hair
-Broke up fights between your kids
-Put on makeup
-Put on contact lenses or used eye drops
-Shaved
-Filed, clipped, or polished your nails?
The above examples are from CyberDrive Illinois and are examples of Distracted Driving.

SIDNE has been used effectively to show the impairment due to Distracted Driving. Some instructors have had their participants use the Fatal Reaction activity, as well as cell phones, text messaging among other activities to see the difference that these distractions have on their driving performance. While SIDNE is hands-on, this website will give you an example of a distracted driver activity. Test how well you do!

Attention SIDNE Owners- send us your photos, stories and examples of using SIDNE in Distracted Driving applications! We can post them here.

What is SIDNE?

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 infrared  transmitter. The transmitter 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.

SIDNE in Monroe WI- “National Night Out” event

A Brief History of SIDNE:

SIDNE® was created out of a need for safety in providing a realistic simulation of impaired driving. Educators nationwide have been using Fatal Vision® Goggles since 1996. The Fatal Vision Goggles operate by vividly demonstrating the concept of impairment by altering the vision of the participant,and shifting their equilibrium to simulate a person who is drunk. All Fatal Vision goggles come with a warning label that states that these goggles are NOT to be used while operating a motor vehicle. However, many educators wanted to demonstrate the dangers of impaired driving as realistically as possible so they would have participants wear the goggles while driving around a course in a golf kart. Precautions were taken, but unfortunately these could not fully compensate for the inherent dangers of a high center of gravity, high speeds, lack of control to stop the kart by the instructor, and many times these karts are missing seat belts. Innocorp started hearing about the accidents and understood the risk these organizations were exposing themselves to, simply because of their desire to teach a powerful, life-saving, lesson. Innocorp decided there had to be a safer way. The resulting vehicle had these safety features:

• A low center of gravity.
• Ability to switch either the high and low speeds of the kart, as well as the impairment mode with an infrared transmitter which is controlled by the instructor.
• ability to emergency brake if driver gets too out of control with the infrared transmitter.
• Retractable seatbelts.
• Puts the impairment into the kart rather than the goggles, which enables the participant to experience what it is like to be trapped inside of the body of a drunk driver.  

SIDNE has gone through many innovative changes since its creation in 2003!  However, it continues to serve the purpose of providing a safe, yet realistic, experience of the delayed reaction that comes from impaired driving.

What is the most memorable feedback/comment you’ve ever had in response to your SIDNE program?