New DCCC Driving Simulator

A new, high-tech driving simulator at Davidson County Community College will soon result in enhanced road safety for students and professionals in the fields of law enforcement, firefighting, rescue and first response, and truck driving.

The computerized simulator allows drivers to practice and learn emergency driving skills when encountering hazardous road conditions. They become proficient at safety maneuvers and practices they can’t learn behind the wheels of actual vehicles.

The instructional tool, valued at $320,000, was purchased through a grant from the Golden LEAF Foundation as well as state funds. It is among only a few on the campuses of North Carolina’s 58 community colleges.

It simulates hundreds of critical experiences in which drivers practice averting or avoiding unexpected road threats caused by ice, snow, tire blow-outs, brake failures, collisions and other road conditions. Each scenario is programmed or controlled by the instructor, and no matter how many mistakes the driver makes, no one gets hurt and no vehicles are damaged.

“The benefits of this technology can be life-saving,” said Randy Ledford, associate dean of the DCCC School of Business, Engineering and Technical Studies.  “If simulator drivers make a mistake, it can be studied, corrected and mastered; the real world environment is not as flexible and forgiving,” he added.

Businesses, industry and public service organizations within the Piedmont Triad region have expressed interest in using the simulator for training purposes, according to Ledford. Simulator drivers feel as if they are behind the wheel of an actual vehicle. They grip the steering wheel, turn the ignition switch, and press the gas and brake pedals to get moving.  They view their journey through three, high-resolution computer screens, and they must be ready for anything that pops up from a weather emergency to a deer darting out in the roadway.

What happens on their drive is controlled by the click of a computer mouse operated by their instructor behind them. Instructors can change the scenario from day to night, make it snow or rain, or lay down sheets of dangerous black ice.

Drivers see lifelike images of oncoming traffic among other realistic animations. Their views are ever-changing, from city streets with pedestrians strolling by or long dark stretches of highway with only occasional traffic.

It is what the drivers may not notice or see coming that provides the teachable moments, such as an unexpected patch of ice or someone in dark clothing walking alongside or crossing the road. The simulated training experience prepares drivers for scenarios they may never or rarely encounter in the real world, and it allows them to practice avoidance techniques.

The simulations are videotaped so that students and instructors can play them back to study what went right and what went wrong. “Road driving can’t prepare students for the scenarios that they may encounter on the job,” said Ledford. “The simulator helps them develop and apply risk awareness and management skills as well as crash avoidance maneuvers.”

Tractor trailer drivers can learn to maneuver in and out of narrow city streets where it can be difficult to back their trailers precisely into loading docks or to make tight turns without bumping their wheels over the curbs.

 “It taught me to think and look ahead and make plans for anything unexpected that can happen; I learned to be ready to shift, brake, or somehow avoid the obstacle,” said Jim Camp, a truck driving instructor who was trained to instruct his students using the simulator. “This is a great opportunity to develop skills and do things you can’t normally do on the street. Here, no one gets hurt and no equipment gets damaged.”

High risk situations such as police chases can be practiced, and fire and rescue drivers can learn policies such as whether to stop or slow down at certain intersections.  Actual road accidents can be recreated to teach students how to safely avoid similar situations.

The simulator is mounted in a 30-foot trailer that can be pulled to all DCCC campuses and education centers as well as schools and public events. For more information, call Randy Ledford at 336.249.8186, extension 6357, or email him at rledford@davidsonccc.edu