Case Study:
CMPG use of virtual reality
headsets
Overview of the approach
Although not their primary activity in relation to
preventing mobile phone use by drivers, the Central
Motorway Police Group use virtual reality (VR) film as
part of their broader approach. The film that they use
adopts a fear-appeal logic (see p68), highlighting the
severe personal consequences that can result from
using a mobile phone while driving. The action depicted
in the film relates to young drivers in particular.
The virtual reality headsets can be used as stand-alone
technologies but are generally deployed inside a police
vehicle, so that individuals experience the scenario
depicted within the film (crashing and being cut free
from a car) in a similar spatial context. CMPG officers
have taken the VR strategy to a local university and to local schools, to educate young drivers and passengers
about the issues associated with mobile phone use while driving. Accompanying police officers also provide some
one-to-one and small group engagement alongside the use of the VR headsets.
Mobile:Engaged contribution
Knowledge exchange
One member of the Mobile:Engaged team sampled the virtual reality experience when CMPG brought the
approach to our students at Keele University during NPCC mobile phone week. We also subsequently met with
a CMPG officer and held a Knowledge Exchange Consulation to discuss VR, amongst their other approaches to
tackling mobile phone use by drivers.
Encouraging behaviour change
VR is exciting, and VR is new. But it is important that we look beyond its novelty factor and consider how
it should best be used. We need to make sure, for example, that just because we can produce realistic
experiences, we don’t forget what we know about the use of fear-based information. Whilst it may be an
incredibly powerful way to give individuals information about the consequences of dangerous driving, we
mustn’t fail to also equip its users with methods to respond to that. VR must be used as part of a package of
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