Learner drivers can now learn how to drive without touching an actual car, thanks to virtual reality.
Using a simulator, Johannesburg-based SIMDrive is teaching novices how to navigate a vehicle in a safe, stress-free environment, in accordance with K53 regulations.
Founder Anton Tromp says he realised the value of training on a simulator when getting his private pilot's licence. “When I saw the driving simulator, it just made so much sense and I could not believe it had not been done before now,” he says.
“I did some research and found the best simulator for South Africa. The Afsim simulators are imported from China and adapted for South African conditions and K53. Simulators make it possible to teach a novice driver to drive before they actually drive on public roads. A much safer situation for all.”
The simulator places an individual in a situation resembling real driving. The individual controls the commands, which are the same as those of a real car. With the development of computer-generated images, it has become possible to recreate a complete virtual environment (including roads, indications, vehicles, etc) in an entirely interactive way. The computer recreates a virtual landscape with vehicles, and the learner driver can move in this universe with complete freedom.
The SIMDrive simulator is modelled on the hardware of a VW Citi Golf, says Tromp. With a real clutch, clutch plate, brake with master cylinder and a proper five-speed gearbox; the feel is very realistic and true to life, he explains. There are also sensors on all the components, so the software can pick up if the learner is riding the clutch or failed to put his or her safety belt on, thereby building good driving habits.
“The only difference is the sense of fiscal motion that you don't get on the simulator. After learners have completed the simulator driving course, we take them for a final lesson in a real car. It takes a learner between five and 20 minutes to adapt to on-road driving. The only real sense to get used to is that of brake modulation,” says Tromp.
The simulator course has 10 lessons that are covered over eight 45-minute sessions, plus the one on-road lesson of one hour, explains Tromp.
“The course is very comprehensive and includes a learner's licence manual and five Q&A books. The simulator course starts at identifying the controls, pre-trip inspection, clutch control, gear changes and vehicle manoeuvring. Once these skills have been mastered, we start with the full K53 yard test, which includes parallel parking, alley docking, incline start and three-point turn. After the yard skills have been mastered, we take the learner on a highway driving course that we vary between day, night and rain driving. This is then followed up with a city driving course and defensive driving, again in day, night and rain scenarios,” says Tromp.
Once learners have completed the simulator course and on-road lesson, Tromp says they will have the skill and knowledge to drive safely on the road. “They would not need any further driving lessons but would need more practical driving experience on the road before doing the driving test.”
SIMDrive driver education addresses 55% of the causes of all road accidents in SA - speeding, unsafe/unlawful overtaking, turning into oncoming traffic, disregard for traffic signs, following distances and unsafe reversing. The remaining 45% of causes encompass pedestrians, hit-and-runs, intoxication and other causes. Bearing in mind that 61% of accidents in SA occur at night, SIMDrive also facilitates night driving, which no other traditional teaching method addresses.
Tromp refers to research indicating that the use of driving simulators in novice driver training may greatly enhance safe driving. “A large-scale study, performed in the US, has shown that when a good simulator is used, the accident rate during the two-year period after getting the licence is reduced to 34% of the national average accident rate for novice drivers.”
SIMDrive started offering courses in May this year, either at the training centre, in Northcliff, or via the mobile platform, which can be taken to learners. “Currently we have contracts with six schools and one university to teach novice drivers from the school/university premises. Some of the schools have allowed us to teach learners in school time during the Life Orientation period, as it does form part of the syllabus. So with the mobile platform, we can take driver education to the learner,” says Tromp.
SIMDrive has been endorsed by Arrive Alive and Chevrolet SA. For more information, click here.
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