NCJ Number
195006
Journal
Police: The Law Enforcement Magazine Volume: 26 Issue: 2 Dated: February 2002 Pages: 32-35
Date Published
February 2002
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article describes the realism of simulated driver training for police officers.
Abstract
The philosophy for driving simulation is not teaching officers how to drive, but how to think while driving. Driving skills are a combination of physical as well as mental processes. Because most affordable driving simulators are stationary, there is only graphical input on which to base the feeling of G-Forces. The current fidelity level is about 80 percent of real driving. This makes basic, physical, driving instruction on simulators impractical. The real value of driving simulation is its capability to teach the student good decision-making skills. A simulator can put a driver in situations that in real life would be highly dangerous. Intersection accident avoidance is an area that has shown marked improvement with simulator-based training. The California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) created 11 Regional Skills Centers to address firearm proficiency, defensive tactics, and driving skills. POST provides funds to purchase use-of-force simulators, defensive tactics equipment, and driving simulators. There are three major producers of driving simulators for police emergency vehicle operations. They are Doron, GE Capital I-SIM, and FAAC. Doron’s Advanced Mobile Operations Simulator (AMOS) was originally based on an Atari video game. Now it offers the AMOS II with new software and new hardware technologies. I-SIM makes the PatrolSim driving simulator, which provides an open-seat driving station in a high-fidelity driving environment that is suitable for training and research applications. FAAC’s PP2000 system includes a real car cab with three, large screen displays. Driving simulators are computer driven, and as computer technology advances, simulators will advance.