MarkC
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posted on 9-11-2007 at 20:26
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Driving Simulators
I wanted to start this thread as source for simulator discussion.
I have only been in one simulator and it was rather old. The thing I came away with is that it seemed like a good decision making training aid, best
suited toward a recruit. One other thing was that there were scenarios that were based i=on real world collision. I fell right into the same reaction
that cost the officer, and it was great to replay the incident after feed-back from the instructor, and successfully negotiating the incident.
In my searches I came across an article written by the owner of this site.
http://www.policeone.com/writers/columnists/TravisYates/articles/1211731/
I was looking for the simulator article just written in Law Officer magazines Sept '07 issue. It looks like they have not added it to their site yet.
I will post it when able. If somebody subscribes to the magazine in its digital form, please post it !
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TerribleTC
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posted on 10-11-2007 at 01:55
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There is an article posted on this site titled "Is Driver Training Effective?". The study was conducted down under, which may explain some of the
conclusions being backward. Yes it's true teaching skill to young drivers can make them cocky. Have you ever had to chase a youngster who had
attended some kind of racing school? Scary! Their main conclusion was that experience was more effective in reducing accidents than structured
training.
Alas! That's where simulation shines. Simulators, and a good instructor, can provide a lifetime worth of "Oh my God"s in a single day.
Simulation is the long missing piece of the EVOC training puzzle.
Coming Soon: "I don't care about the bells and whistles, I just want the darn thing to work!"
Terry Cutler
(Sim Sensei)
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TerribleTC
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posted on 10-11-2007 at 02:32
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Oh by the way Mark, when you fell into that reaction that cost the officer, do you remember the situation? Will you recognize it if you see it again,
in what ever form it may present itself? Since you have experienced it, you now have an instant reaction tool in you experience toolbox. You don't
have to think about what the instructor described on a chalkboard, while hurtling down the road at 60 plus mph. You can instantly employ the correct
trained reaction. Better yet, you will recognize it ahead of time, and anticipate it. Simulation changes the Oh "@#$!"s into "I knew it"s. The
"I knew it"s you are ready for.
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MarkC
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posted on 10-11-2007 at 18:27
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I do remember it, and think of it often. It was a car that abruptly made a u-turn directly in front of a unit. The natural reaction was to try and
veer away. On the second go-round I steered toward the safe path behind the moron and ended up on the curb. A much better outcome than t-boning a
vehicle.
You are right, of course; having been thru it once, the chances of avoiding it a second time is much better.
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TerribleTC
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posted on 13-11-2007 at 19:38
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I would like to hear from some of the simulator users out there. What do you like, or dislike about them? (No Brand Names) Are they effective? Are
they your sole driver training program, or in conjunction with on track driving. Are they just video games? Do they still work?
If you had the power, what would you change about the simulator?
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policedriving
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posted on 13-11-2007 at 22:50
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I would also be interested in anyone using the EVOC 101 software.
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TerribleTC
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posted on 11-12-2007 at 16:21
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I can't believe there aren't any simulator users out there. The ones I know certainly aren't shy.
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MarkC
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posted on 11-12-2007 at 18:59
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Do you know some that may want to register and comment ?
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TerribleTC
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posted on 11-12-2007 at 19:26
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I'm working on 'em! 
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Evocmanager
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posted on 14-1-2008 at 16:39
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Simulators
I am a retired member of a California Sheriff's Office, and the last 10 years of my professional life was managing the Emergency Vehicle Operations
Course at our Regional Training Center.
I have taught over 20,000 students in Pursuit, Code-3, and Counter Terrorism Driving on our specialized track, skidpan and simulators. I am now
working as a contract instructor with the Department of Justice in the same field of work.
Concerning your quest for info on simulators, I can tell you that they are a terrific platform for vehicle training. They were never designed to
replace real driving, but instead serve to compliment it.
The purpose of simulators is primarily one of decision making. We can introduce real driving scenario's that someone has never seen before or has
little experience in, and have them develop their skills in a harmless environment without injury to the officer, other motorists, and/or suffering
vehicular or property damage.
The same scenario can have different elements added such as weather conditions, traffic congestion, response to mistakes made by other drivers, or the
officer can suffer loss of brakes, flat tires, and numerous other emergencies or situations.
All scenario's are based on real things that have happened. In this way, a new officer can experience what it took others to learn in a lifetime.
They can re-drive and retest their decisions, responses and actions until they have honed their skills correctly.
As stated above, actual (real) driving and simulations are not good in and of themselves. Each teaches a critical area that is necessary if the goal
is to make a driver who properly analyzes a problem and responds correctly to it. It also is more than just teaching with both platforms. It is the
correct balance of each within the curriculum and using simulations as a modifier or counterpoint in each exercise.
Simulators, like the application of medicine, can be someone's worst nightmare if practiced (in our case taught) incorrectly. If the professional
isn't qualified or doesn't believe in the procedure (in our case tool), it is no different than having a quack perform a heart transplant. If one
survives, they will live to regret it. The instructor must be highly accomplished, motivated, and must know the capability and value of simulators.
There are thousands who have been forever disenchanted due to unqualified instruction or teaching with a tool they do not themselves believe in.
Terry Godchaux
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MarkC
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posted on 14-1-2008 at 17:58
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Welcome aboard, Terry!
Great info....thanks for your contribution.
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bryanr3000
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posted on 16-1-2008 at 17:12
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Hi All,
I am a former officer rural (956 residents) to city (50,000), have been through the VIP Protection program, EVOC Instructor, FTO etc, etc and
Currently the Training Director for a state Chief's Association.
We have a simulator that we got a few years ago through a grant. I have to agree, the simulator is a great suppliment to "live" driver training.
One of the most interesting things that I see when teaching a class is the different responses and driving styles when you have a mixture of rural and
urban area officers. The attitude and aggressiveness of the drivers are almost always the complete opposite. The rural officer will be extremely
aggressive and take a lot of chances that the urban officer will not. With some discussion and using replay it is relatively easy to change some of
those "bad habits" that we get into out on the street.
There are a couple of things that you have to be careful with when using the trainer. First off, it is easy to get into the "video game" mentality
with the students if you are not careful. The instructor has to be careful not to let this go too far. You can let them go for a little bit, but
make sure that you "snap them back" to reality on a crash and have them put themselves in a real life situation and the consequences.
The other downfall is some people get nauseous when using the trainers. There is a lot of visual input going on without the physical input. I have
had students that have taken dramamine prior to class, and I have one of the wrist "shock" watches that will help some people with this. There is
no one cure-all though and some will just be effected, nothing you can do about it. They will participate in 99% of the cases that I have had as much
as possible and sit out when they need to.
Overall, I have found this system to be a very good training tool and gives officers a chance to go through the decision making process without the
dire consequences.
Bryan Reid
Stay Safe
Bryan
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MarkC
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posted on 17-1-2008 at 01:01
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dang...the new members are comin' outta the woodwork for this thread !
Welcome to you too, Bryan.
A quick question for you - do you know if the grant you applied for is still in effect? Was it thru DHS ?
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bryanr3000
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posted on 17-1-2008 at 20:41
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Hi Mark,
Thanks for the welcome.
Actually we got a couple of our legislators to get the money for us through an earmark. We used the high numbers of officers killed in driving
incidents every year as justification.
Bryan
Stay Safe
Bryan
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MarkC
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posted on 18-1-2008 at 00:46
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Gotcha - food for thought. Thanks.
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policedriving
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posted on 19-1-2008 at 03:32
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Bryan,
Good to see you here.
Travis
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TerribleTC
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posted on 22-1-2008 at 14:36
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In his article: Intuition on the street: Harnessing the power of the sixth
sense, posted on Police One,
Lt. Jim Glennon, Lead Street Survival Seminar Instructor, wrote:
I teach communication classes for law enforcement and for private industry.
I used to say in those classes that the unconscious is in control of 90% of
our everyday activities, but I was wrong. Upon further study and reflection
I have to acknowledge that orchestration of actions, done consciously, is no
where near the figure of 10%.
While it is the conscious mind that houses our subjectivity, morality,
judgment, our ability to be self-aware and make rational decisions, it is
our unconscious that is actually the controlling force in both dealing with
our existence and in navigating our way through life. And the unconscious
does more than feel and react, it actually does think and that thought
process is quite rational. But, it is a thought process that moves so fast
that it is mysterious and perplexing to the more logical, deliberate
thinking, conscious mind.
How much of the conscious mind is used while driving? Even less. When responding to a call, we are thinking about what will surprise us when we get
there, not what will surprise us in route. Without experience or training with practical application, our split second unconscious decisions may be
wrong. We need to train for those suprises in a safe invironment, continuously, and as acurately as possible. Simulation is the only way.
How can we make driving simulators more effective in accomplishing this goal?
Looking forward to lots of ideas!
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TerribleTC
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posted on 6-3-2008 at 15:25
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Any questions on Driving Simulator problems, or maintenance? I'll be happy to try and answer.
Sim Sensei 
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TerribleTC
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posted on 8-10-2008 at 15:00
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Please check out request for user group under Training catagory.
Terry Cutler
(Sim Sensei)
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