To an outsider, it would look like troopers are getting their training by playing video games.
In reality, the Utah Highway Patrol is using the latest groundbreaking technology to prepare its officers for any condition or situation they may encounter on the road.
Driving simulators are nothing new to law enforcement. Troopers sit down behind the wheel of a device that has three screens and looks like a gamer's ultimate fantasy.
But the software and the overall system of the simulators were recently upgraded. Now, driving simulators are more realistic than ever before, said Lt. Wade Breur with Peace Officer Standards and Training.
More importantly, the updated simulators take measurements and provide instant scoring on how a trooper performs.
"It's good to identify issues, good or bad, and build upon those," Breur said. "It gives instant feedback, something we didn't have with the first generation of simulators."
A driving simulator is more than just a way to practice high-speed chases. Although pursuits are part of the training, a trooper normally starts off slow and is told to simply "drive" from point A to point B, Breur said. Along the way, pedestrians may dart into the street, or other vehicles may not stop at intersections. Troopers being tested will be scored on how they react to these situations.
The upgraded system is also more realistic, Breur said. Whereas before the simulators would allow troopers to make turns at 100 mph with the wheels hugging perfectly to the road, the updated simulators follow the dynamics of a patrol car more closely, taking into account real-life acceleration, breaking and turns.
"It's as true as we can get to what's out there as much as the technology will allow us," Breur said.
And should an officer make a mistake while using the simulator, "it doesn't cost taxpayers to repair a crashed car," Breur said.
The simulators can be programmed to teach officers to deal with all situations, including tire blowouts and extreme weather conditions.
But Breur said the simulator is only a complement to an actual driver's training range, not a substitution.
"We recognize that simulation has its own little role. It does not replace getting behind the wheel. But it is a good way to identify driver errors very quickly," he said.
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