BOSTON -- Multitasking behind the wheel has become a major public safety concern. Six thousand people die each year due to multitasking while driving. One local company is a embarking on a three-year initiative to teach teenagers about distracted driving dangers through a kind of high-tech driver's education.

A 36-foot-long neon-yellow mobile classroom with high-tech driving simulations serves as a reality check on the hazards of doing more than driving behind the wheel. An instructor tells 17-year-old Hannah Farrell to drive while reading a text out loud. Within seconds, she crashes.

An audio/tutorial explains what went wrong.

"The two-six rule is if you take your eyes off the road for two seconds in any six-second period, it increases the likelihood you'll get into an accident."

Dr. Donald Fisher, head of the college of engineering at UMass-Amherst, created the simulator.

"They don't know where to look outside the car for potential hazards," said Fisher, "so once we learned it's what they didn't know, it was possible to train them with a program that was PC-based. Who really listens to their parents? You need to experience something before you learn something."

Drivers are tested on maneuvering several road hazards. Hannah Farrell's mom said the simulator experience made a difference.

"Driving home she said she has four friends who need to go through this right now," said Kim Farrell.

"Drivers texting are 23 times more likely to be in a crash or near crash than drivers doing nothing like that," said Fisher.

The charitable foundation of Arbella Insurance is financing the $1.4 million mobile classroom.

"Someone using a text message has an attention span distraction equal to being a drunk driver under the laws in Massachusetts. That's how serious it is," said John Donohue, Chairman and CEO of the Arbella Insurance Group.

All newly licensed drivers who complete the simulator test and short online course get a $15 gas card.

"I was so excited for the gas card because every Thursday I have to put in $40," said Farrell.

Arbella customers get an extra incentive.

"If they complete the program, it's a 7 percent discount applied to all of their coverages," said Rob Marchionne of Arbella Insurance.

The crash course called Distractology 101 hits the road in many parking lots at local police stations and high schools around the state.