• Driving simulators allow drivers to learn basic skills, such as visual search and vehicle control, as well as preparation for extremely hazardous situations that require specific actions quickly, all in a safe and controlled environment.
• Driving simulators allow drivers to see consequences without the seriousness of a mistake made out on the road.
• Carriers that use driving simulators have reported a 20 to 50 percent reduction in preventable accidents in new drivers’ first 90 days of work.

Vehicle driving simulators allow a carrier to get drivers better prepared for things like black ice, tire blow outs, winter driving conditions, heavy rain, jackknives, rollovers, and other hazardous driving situations without any danger.

Straying from the traditional

Traditional driver training includes logging time in the classroom and then time behind the wheel of a truck on a closed track. Once the trainee has progress far enough, on-road training begins under the close supervision of a driver trainer. During on-road training it is unlikely that the trainee will encounter many of the hazards that will be faced during a driving career.

With vehicle driving simulators, however, these road hazards and extreme conditions can be created, making drivers better prepared when they are faced on the road. But the simulators don’t have to be used just for getting drivers prepared for hazards and extreme conditions, they can also be effective in getting them comfortable behind the wheel and learning driving basics.

Simulators don’t take the place of the on-road training, but rather supplement it. They allow drivers to become familiar with how a vehicle operates before they ever get behind the wheel to drive it around a closed track or on the road.

Why they work

Simulators allow drivers to repeatedly practice any given situation until they develop a conditioned response. It’s also referred to as muscle memory and results in the driver reacting automatically, deliberately, and without panicking when faced with a situation previously practiced on the simulator.

For basic driving behavior, the use of simulators can boost driver confidence before getting into a commercial vehicle. Many people drop out of driving school when getting up close to a big vehicle the first time. The simulator helps develop confidence, so the driver is less intimidated at the thought of driving a large vehicle on the road. This is becoming increasingly important as more “non-traditional” drivers are being recruited by fleets.

Simulators can set up a variety of scenarios and can be tailored to a carrier’s specific operation. After determining top driving problems, 10 modules could be created on the simulator to replicate them. Common driving condition scenarios can also be created.

How they work

In a typical simulator, a driver sits in a real driver’s seat. The simulator’s dashboard replicates the vehicle’s dashboard. High-end simulators use real motion to closely replicate the feeling the driver will have in an actual vehicle. There can be one to five screens in front of the driver that mimic conditions that may be encountered. Newer simulators now incorporate virtual reality goggles, which allow drivers to look behind themselves and turn their heads. With a traditional simulator, drivers look only at the screens in front of them.

Simulators allow drivers to see consequences without the seriousness of a mistake made out on the road. Drivers move from simple tasks to more difficult ones as the repeated actions become habits. Fleets using simulators say that one hour of simulator time is equal to three or four hours training behind the wheel on the track or on the road. Driving techniques and maneuvers can be practiced over and over at a faster pace on a simulator than in the truck itself.

The ROI

While simulators can be costly, studies have shown that the payback comes in the form of fewer crashes for drivers trained on simulators and in the vehicle, compared to those who just had behind-the-wheel training. Fleets have reported 20 to 50 percent reduction in preventable accidents in new drivers’ first 90 days of work.

Simulators are helpful even when a crash occurs because the conditions of the crash can be recreated and the driver can see what was done wrong. The driver can then replay the scene and gain mastery over it, to be better prepared if in a similar situation in the future.