Russia to Combat Drunk Driving with 'Drunk' VR Goggles
Innovative VR technology developed in Russia demonstrates why the only acceptable alcohol level behind the wheel is zero, offering a powerful new tool for public safety education.
Russia has introduced a high‑tech simulator that allows people to personally experience how alcohol impairment makes safe driving impossible. The unique system — combining VR goggles with a reaction‑time test — was unveiled in Novosibirsk as part of the nationwide social project “Your Limit: Zero Promille.” Developers emphasize that the simulator is designed as a modern tool to combat drunk driving.
The VR goggles distort perception and recreate the loss of coordination typical of alcohol intoxication. Participants were asked to catch ten falling objects in 30 seconds — first without the goggles, and then while wearing them. The demonstration clearly showed how reaction speed drops under simulated intoxication.
According to the project organizers, their mission is to communicate one principle: people should drive only when completely sober.
The initiative also includes installing roadside art objects, collaborating with driving schools, and producing an educational film together with the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate and the Ministry of Education. This comprehensive approach illustrates how digital innovation and creative technologies can help address a pressing social issue.
