NCJ Number
186486
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 67 Issue: 11 Dated: November 2000 Pages: 56-58
Date Published
November 2000
Length
3 pages
Annotation
The San Antonio, Tex., Police Department purchased a driving simulator and conducts weekly in-service training to reduce traffic accidents involving police vehicles.
Abstract
Almost all driving situations that police encounter on patrol are too dangerous for the use of real vehicles during training. Simulators provide safety from liability and danger while developing transferable training experience. Enhanced simulator training is also one way to help protect against potential negligent training claims. Current simulators consist of fully interactive cockpits with sophisticated visual displays, dashes, center consoles, radios, lights, and sirens. The simulator used in San Antonio consists of a Ford Crown Victoria dash and seat surrounded by three 40-inch, flat-screen televisions. Each police officer receives 2 hours of simulation and 2 hours of track training. All officers must become recertified annually. Officers who exceed the agency’s limit on points for driving accidents must attend 8 hours of additional driving instruction, including 2.5 hours on the simulator. Some San Antonio police officers have reported that simulator training has caused them to reevaluate how they drive. The simulator’s ability to isolate a driver’s weaknesses and address them before an officer enters a patrol car is one of the simulator’s most popular applications. The agency has experienced a 74 percent reduction in intersection collisions between the first 6 months of 1999 and the same period in 2000. The San Antonio experience suggests that using tactical driving simulation will develop better officers, create more public trust, and reduce equipment and personnel expenses. Photograph