Distracted driving simulator donated to campus

A simulator designed to raise awareness of the perils of distracted driving has been donated to Youngstown State University by the Maria Tiberi Foundation.

The equipment made its campus debut at the National Women’s Health and Fitness Day event on Sept. 27.

YSU Police Chief Shawn Varso said the YSUPD will partner with other divisions and groups on campus to utilize the simulator for distracted driving/impaired driving education.

The foundation is named in memory of Maria Tiberi, who was a senior Graphic Designs major at Ohio State University when she died in an auto accident in September 2013. The foundation was created by Maria’s parents, Dom and Terri Tiberi, to bring distraction-free driving to the forefront. The foundation has donated 42 driving simulators to police departments, sheriff’s departments, universities, school districts and other agencies across Ohio.

The YSU simulator is provided by Virtual Driver Interactive Inc. in California.