Saving lives a virtual reality

The motoring body has set up two driving simulators to allow young drivers to gain experience in a safe environment.

"Young people aged 17-20 are three times more likely to be killed on our roads than drivers over 21," NRMA director Jan McClelland says. "We can place restrictions as much as we like, but until young people are educated on how to drive safely, they will always be over-represented in crashes."

The simulator is the first of its kind in the country, and originates from the Netherlands.

NRMA Public Policy manager Alan Finlay says the simulators are only available in manual, and while Finlay admits this will deter some students, he says it is much easier to make the transition from a manual to an automatic rather than the other way around.

L-plate driver Krysti McGuckin (pictured) says she was initially planning to take her P-plate test in an automatic, but after using the simulator is confident she can do it in a manual. Like many first-time manual drivers, the 17-year-old says stalling is her biggest fear but being able to practise in the simulator has eased her mind.

"I was too scared to do it on the streets but now I would definitely try it (the P-plate test) in a manual," she says. "It is very necessary for any learner driver to use the simulator. Even if they go only once it is relevant as you learn the basics quickly."

A 30-minute simulator lesson costs $15 and one-hour on-road driving lessons are $65, but there are packages available.

Students are encouraged to combine the simulator sessions with on-road driving in two manual VW Golfs in order to make the transition from simulator to the real thing a more seamless one.

The simulator experience is as close to actual driving as possible. The simulator's steering is connected to a servo motor and is weighted just like a real car.The cars have a clutch, brake and accelerator and while the car won't kangaroo-hop, it will stall.

The simulators have no movement, instead the student is surrounded by three screens, which generate moving scenery.

Students start on a rural road with no traffic and learn how to steer a straight course. They practise starting and changing from first to second gear.

The student progresses to starting, changing up to third and back down to a stop, while still travelling on a rural road with light traffic.

In this stage the student will also have to perform a few turns.

The final stage is in an urban setting with more traffic.

"The students will have to know their road rules, stop signs, give-way signs. They will have to be able to turn left or right without cutting corners," Finlay says.

He adds that in the next month or two the NRMA hopes to add a further stage to the simulator — a motorway section where students can learn to drive at speed.

If a student crashes they then have to restart that stage.

There are sensors monitoring steering, brakes and accelerator. The data is printed out at the end of each session so students can see where they went wrong.

The simulators are also monitored by an in-car camera to check if students are turning their heads to change lanes and when pulling out from the kerb.

The on-road Golfs (manual) have dual-controls so student can apply their new skills on the road under the guidance of professional instructors. "It means young drivers can make mistakes and learn from them without it costing them their lives," McLelland says.

The simulators are located at the NRMA's new Safer Driving Education Centre at North St, North Strathfield, NSW.