Want to know what it’s like to drink and drive? Ford has a suit for that

By Joe Mahan Published April 1, 2014

Ford recently been organized events across Europe for drivers ages 17 to 24. Besides improving their driving skills, students also get to experience a suit that makes them feel drunk.

Convincing people not to drive drunk, especially in Europe where the drinking age is lower, is a difficult task. The suit that Ford made for its Driving Skills for Life program simulates all the effects of drinking such as: reduced vision, reaction times, and hearing.

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Sadly, the suit is not all that ingenious of an idea. However, I will afford Ford the applause for implementing it. The suit consists of weights strapped around the wearers, ankles, wrists, and arms. A neck brace restricts movement and goggles reduce peripheral vision.

Ford is adamant about implementing these free driving events, considering a recent survey conducted revealed that 66 percent of of 17-to-24-year-olds in Europe do not know the legal alcohol blood level. A reported 56 percent of individuals in the survey also say their friends have driven under the influence.

Watch the video below to see the suit in action.

Joe Mahan is an intern at Digital Trends working in the Cars section. He is currently a Junior at the University of Portland…

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