Asia's first fifth-generation, virtual reality-based advanced driver training simulator centre was inaugurated today by G Chandramohan, Rotary Governor, Rotary International District 3232, at the Automobile Association of Southern India Centre (AASI), Chennai, in the presence of TD Sadasivam, Chairman and other executive Committee members of AASI. In the first six months, AASI is to train 200 ambulance drivers free of cost, under the ‘Safe Drivers Campaign’.

The patented simulator has been ideated, designed and developed by Chennai-based Red Chariots Technologies and it took close to three years for a team of 12 engineers to develop the hardware and software, replicating the Indian driving standards and road conditions.

At Rs 100 for an 8-minute session, existing drivers can make use of this simulator to learn advanced techniques of driving and implement it in their day to day driving style. Through this specialised training module, drivers learn to anticipate adverse situations on road and make safe decisions with minimum to no risk for self and the general public on road.

The training session is a combination of level-based practical learning modules coupled with self-learning theory modules through an interactive e-learning quiz app built in-house.

When a trainee registers basic details in the app, he/she will experience a 45-second demo level. This level will give the trainee the required time to get used to the driving simulator and the immersive environment of Virtual Reality. The actual driving levels commence after the demo experience. The duration of each module is 3 minutes and the software has been designed and developed keeping Indian road scenarios in mind.

After completing each level, the trainee is given a detailed performance analysis report that shows his/her areas of strength and scope for improvement based on how many rules they followed, how many road etiquettes they adhered to and their overall behaviour on road. Based on this score, they either qualify and graduate to the next level immediately or are told to retake the same level after 24 hours, until they qualify.

AASI says its aim is for all driving schools to train learners using this advanced driving simulator.

Speaking about the increase in road traffic accidents and fatalities, the Chairman of AASI, TD Sadasivam said, “It is imperative that a change has to be initiated in the society. As an organization that carries the legacy since the early 1900s, we always encourage and approve of ideas and products that will create this change. This Driving Simulator is the need of the hour and together, AASI and Red Chariots Technologies will instil the importance of road safety in people.”

D V Vinod Gopal, Director, Red Chariots Technologies, said, “This idea germinated and developed as a result of the daily mishaps on road due to lack of systematic training and the burning need to bridge the gap between knowing about road safety and making it a way of life. The key objective of this innovation is to reduce on-road fatalities and make Indian roads safer."