Cycling UK smashes £15k kickstarter target for driving safety VR film

Cycling UK has developed a new tool to aid police in changing driver behaviour through a virtual reality (VR) educational experience.

The 360° VR “Too Close For Comfort” film will put drivers in the saddle to experience a close pass from a cyclist’s perspective, so that every driver knows what it feels like when a car passes by too closely.

According to the charity, police forces which already run close pass operations told them that the VR film would be a hugely impactful tool in helping to alter driver behaviour.

In order to provide the film to police stations without cost, Cycling UK launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise £15,000 – and has now far surpassed that target. With less than 12 hours until the campaign closes to donations, the amount of money raised currently sits at £17,108 with 926 backers.

With the targeted amount of money reached, the charity can provide every police force in the UK with the film and VR headset, as well as making the film available to anyone in the world from cycling safety campaigners to driving instructors.

Police attribute “passing too close to the cyclist” as a contributory factor in a staggering 25% of serious collisions between cyclists and large vehicles.

A film from Cycling UK explains how the charity came up with the VR concept, and how it works:

There is still time to support the campaign and donate, you can do so by clicking here.