This report is the outcome of a review of several issues associated with driving simulators, in particular those that might be suitable for driver training, licensing and assessment. It incorporates a summary of the history and present status of the use of simulators in Australia and elsewhere; a review of the literature with emphasis on documentation on licensing and training; reports on discussions with individuals and organisations with expertise in simulation or with a potential demand for their use; and an examination of the costs and possible benefits of simulators. It is concluded that training in simulators is neither more nor less effective than training behind the wheel, and that there is no hard evidence that it has any beneficial effect on the incidence of accidents. Simulators can be useful for training in simple tasks, especially in a group situation, or for the assessment of disabled drivers. However, for the whole task of driving, existing simulators are either insufficiently realistic or too expensive to replace behind-the-wheel training or assessment. Some proprietary simulators are reviewed. (A)
Samenvatting