While aviation simulation technology still leads the way, there has been limited use of high end (i.e. multi-million dollar) ground vehicle simulators for a period approaching two decades. However, there has been a growing momentum in ground vehicle simulation over the pas two to three years which has seen very rapid advancement of technological capabilities, and a consequent reduction in unit prices, to the stage where access to simulation technology has potentially become a general tool for road safety research and training. To some extent, this development necessitates a "paradigm shift" for Australian road safety, at both the research and policy levels, for it ushers in a "new", but complementary, way of approaching research and development of road crash countermeasures. This paper provides some contextual information on the "new road safety" and outlines some potential applications of simulation technology.
Abstract