WASHINGTON CO. EMPLOYEES STEP BEHIND WHEEL OF DRIVING SIMULATOR

  

Washington County employees logged miles behind the wheel of a virtual driving simulator today (Wednesday).

The simulator, set up through tomorrow (Thursday) at a trailer at the Washington County Fairgrounds, is being used by the Texas Association of Counties (TAC) to help county Road and Bridge staff reduce risks and learn safe-driving measures.

TAC Driving Simulator Consultant Don Courtney said the simulator training reinforces good driving habits that help improve employee safety and make them better prepared for the unexpected.

Employees had to take a written test before using the simulator, which creates real-world driving conditions that replicates situations drivers may encounter while on the road.  The simulator recreated pedestrians and traffic, and also played back and scored the driving of employees.

The simulator has logged more than 750,000 miles traveling across the state and training drivers, at no cost to the counties.