Simulated driving

Bolland Driving Solutions, Kentville, N.S., offers an interactive driving simulator to train drivers. The simulator, from Virtual Driver Interactive, Inc., of California (VDI), has three programs: One Simple Decision promotes safe driving by letting drivers experience the hazards and consequences of distracted and impaired driving in the safety of indoors; StreetReady teaches and assesses new drivers; and, Virtual HD — intended for corporate fleets — is a driver safety program designed to improve hazard recognition skills, lower accident rates and reduce distracted driving. The One Simple Decision and Virtual HD products come in Canadian versions. Insurance firm SGI Canada helped develop the Canadian version of One Simple Decision, to ensure it accurately represented Canadian laws and the consequences of distracted and impaired driving, Bolland said. Trucking companies, utility companies, government departments and safety specialists are now using the driver simulation system, not only to reduce distracted driving but also to improve or test driving skills — sometimes, as a pre-screening tool prior to hiring, Bolland said. A company can lease a VDI entry-level driving simulator for under $300 a month, Bolland said.
www.virtualdrivercanada.ca