The Driving Simulator Course
The Driving Simulator Course is an immersive experience designed to prepare learner drivers for road scenarios that are either too dangerous or challenging to practise in regular driving lessons.
Introduced by the Singapore Traffic Police, it is conducted in a virtual environment, and simulates real-world traffic conditions, providing learners with the opportunity to react to various driving situations without the risk of an actual accident.
The simulator helps drivers develop quick decision-making skills and defensive driving techniques.
Why is it Mandatory?
The Driving Simulator Course became a mandatory part of Singapore’s driver training curriculum on December 16, 2019, to address specific risks that new drivers may face once they start driving independently:
1. Improving Hazard Perception
Many accidents occur due to drivers’ failure to recognise and respond to hazards in time, such as sudden obstacles, pedestrians, or cyclists. The simulator not only helps in improving their reaction times but also builds confidence in handling dangerous scenarios.
2. Preparing for Complex Road Situations
On Singapore’s busy roads, drivers frequently encounter complex situations like merging onto expressways or driving in unpredictable weather conditions which are difficult to replicate safely in practical driving lessons.
The simulator replicates these challenges and gives learners the chance to practise their driving skills under various conditions, such as rainy weather, poor visibility, or sudden traffic stops.
3. Reducing Traffic Accidents
By exposing learners to realistic driving hazards in a virtual environment, the course helps drivers understand the importance of maintaining a safe following distance, adhering to speed limits, and staying alert to their surroundings.
Research has shown that new drivers are more likely to be involved in accidents due to their lack of experience. The simulator course aims to bridge that experience gap.
4. Building Confidence and Defensive Driving Skills
Defensive driving is a key component of safe driving, and the simulator course emphasises the importance of anticipating hazards, maintaining control of the vehicle, and responding quickly to unexpected events.
Scenarios Covered in the Driving Simulator Course
Here’s a breakdown of the key scenarios covered during the course:
1. High-Speed Expressway Driving
What’s Covered: The experience of driving on expressways, focusing on handling high-speed driving, lane changes, and merging into fast-moving traffic. Learners practise entering expressways, navigating tight bends, and safely changing lanes.
Skills Developed: Maintaining control at higher speeds, making smooth lane transitions, and checking blind spots before merging. This scenario also reinforces the importance of proper signaling and safe distance maintenance.
2. Cyclist and Pedestrian Encounters
What’s Covered: How to handle unexpected encounters with pedestrians and cyclists, especially in urban settings. It simulates situations where pedestrians may cross the road unexpectedly, or cyclists enter the driver’s blind spot.
Skills Developed: Situational awareness, checking blind spots, and practising defensive driving. Learners will understand the importance of reacting calmly and decisively when encountering pedestrians and cyclists.
3. Adverse Weather Conditions
What’s Covered: Driving in adverse weather conditions, such as heavy rain or fog. This simulation tests learners’ ability to adjust their driving behavior when visibility is low or road conditions are slippery.
Skills Developed: Slowing down in poor weather, using their headlights correctly, and increasing their following distance to reduce the risk of accidents. The simulator also covers emergency braking on wet roads.
4. Navigating Heavy Traffic
What’s Covered: Driving in congested urban areas where traffic can be unpredictable. Learners are exposed to situations like stop-and-go traffic, sudden lane changes by other vehicles, and navigating tight spaces.
Skills Developed: Maintain calm and control in high-pressure situations. It reinforces the need for patience, proper following distance, and safe lane management.
5. Night Driving
What’s Covered: Some driving courses include night driving scenarios. This module simulates the challenges of driving in low-light conditions, such as reduced visibility and difficulty judging distances.
Skills Developed: Adjusting speed, using headlights effectively, and maintaining awareness of other road users in dark or dimly lit environments.
6. Emergency Situations
What’s Covered: Handling emergency situations, such as a vehicle suddenly stopping in front of them, a pedestrian running onto the road, or an unexpected mechanical failure like brake failure.
Skills Developed: Quick decision-making, teaching learners to remain calm under pressure and take appropriate actions. Emergency braking, evasive manoeuvres, and hazard avoidance are practised.
Structure of the Simulator Lessons
Each lesson is carefully crafted to simulate specific road conditions and situations that drivers may face:
Three Core Modules
Module 1: Expressway Driving
Simulating scenarios like merging into fast-moving traffic, handling tight corners at speed, and maintaining control when changing lanes on highways. Learners are exposed to common mistakes made on expressways, such as failing to check blind spots or not signaling before changing lanes.
Module 2: Urban Driving with Blind Spot Hazards
Simulating pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists. These road users may suddenly appear in blind spots, requiring the driver to react quickly and safely. This module reinforces the importance of blind spot checks, maintaining situational awareness, and driving at appropriate speeds in busy areas.
Module 3: Driving in Adverse Weather Conditions
Adverse weather conditions, such as heavy rain or fog enoucrages users to adjust their driving behaviour, including reducing speed, increasing following distances, and using headlights appropriately in poor visibility. This module also covers handling slippery roads and emergency braking on wet surfaces, helping drivers develop confidence in difficult weather conditions.
Realism and Feedback
Simulator Setup: The simulator mimics the controls of an actual vehicle, with steering wheels, pedals, and mirrors, making the experience as realistic as possible. The visuals and sound effects add to the immersion, ensuring that learners feel like they are driving on actual roads.
Instant Feedback: Learners receive real-time feedback on their performance. If a mistake is made, such as speeding or failing to check a blind spot, the simulator will alert the learner and provide guidance.
Playbacks and Analysis
After each session, learners can review playbacks of their driving performance, allowing them to see where they made errors and how they can improve. This analysis feature helps reinforce defensive driving principles and encourages learners to correct bad habits before taking the Practical Driving Test (PDT).
Duration and Completion
The entire Driving Simulator Course takes around 45 to 60 minutes to complete, with each module lasting about 15 to 20 minutes.
By structuring the course into focused modules, learners can concentrate on mastering specific skills, whether it’s navigating fast-moving traffic, avoiding urban hazards, or handling difficult weather conditions.
Booking and Eligibility for the Driving Simulator Course
Booking your Driving Simulator Course is a straightforward process, but it's important to know when you're eligible and how to secure your spot at one of the driving centres in Singapore.
1. Eligibility Criteria
Class 3 and Class 3A (Cars): You are eligible to book the Driving Simulator Course after completing Subject 08 of the practical driving syllabus at your driving centre. This ensures that you have gained sufficient hands-on driving experience in real-world scenarios.
Class 2B (Motorcycles): Motorcycle learners can book their simulator lesson after completing Subject 4 of the practical riding programme. This requirement ensures that motorcycle learners also have real-world experience.
2. Where to Book the Simulator Course
The Driving Simulator Course is available at all three main driving centres in Singapore:
Bukit Batok Driving Centre (BBDC)
Learners can book their simulator sessions directly through the respective driving centre’s booking platform. Most allow online booking via their e-Services portals, which provide real-time availability for scheduling your lessons.
3. How to Book Your Lesson
Step 1: Log in to your chosen driving centre’s online portal using your learner credentials.
Step 2: You should be able to view available time slots based on your centre’s scheduling system.
Step 3: Select an available slot that fits your schedule and confirm the booking. Some centres may charge a fee for the simulator lesson, which must be paid at the time of booking.
Step 4: Be sure to arrive on time and come prepared with your identification and learner’s permit.
4. Private Learners
For those learning with a private instructor, eligibility for the Driving Simulator Course depends on your progress and the requirements of the driving centres.
Private learners should confirm with their instructor before booking simulator lessons. In some cases, private learners may need additional assistance when scheduling their lessons, as their progress may not be automatically reflected in the driving centre’s system.
5. Rescheduling or Cancelling Lessons
If you need to reschedule or cancel your simulator lesson, it’s usually possible to do so through the driving centre’s online system. However, you should aim to provide notice as early as possible to avoid any potential rescheduling fees or penalties.
What to Expect After?
Here’s what you can expect once you’ve completed the simulator lessons:
1. Detailed Performance Feedback
Learners will receive a detailed performance report highlighting key areas of your driving performance, such as:
Hazard perception: How well you identified and reacted to potential hazards like pedestrians, cyclists, or sudden obstacles.
Vehicle control: Your ability to maintain control during high-speed scenarios, adverse weather conditions, and complex manoeuvres like merging onto expressways or handling blind spots.
Defensive driving skills: An assessment of how effectively you employed defensive driving techniques to avoid potential accidents.
The feedback you receive will help identify specific areas where improvement may be needed before proceeding to the Practical Driving Test.
2. Moving Forward to the Practical Driving Test (PDT)
Completion of the Driving Simulator Course is a prerequisite for booking your Practical Driving Test (PDT).
The knowledge and skills gained in the simulator lessons are directly applicable to the real-world challenges you’ll face during the road portion of the PDT. By practicing difficult scenarios in the simulator, you’ll feel more confident handling similar situations during your practical test.
3. Preparing for the Final Steps
After receiving your simulator course feedback, it’s a good idea to address any areas for improvement by practising further with your instructor. For example, if you struggled with blind spot checks or managing expressway driving during the simulator, you should focus on these areas during your final practical lessons.
Many learners find that the Driving Simulator Course highlights previously unknown weaknesses, which allows them to correct these issues before taking the PDT.
4. What If You Don’t Perform Well in the Simulator?
One important point to note is that performance in the simulator does not directly affect your eligibility for the Practical Driving Test. Whether you performed exceptionally well or found certain scenarios challenging, completing the course itself fulfills the requirement.
However, poor performance is a signal that additional practise may be needed before moving forward to the PDT. Take the simulator feedback seriously and work on addressing the highlighted areas with your instructor.
5. Common Concerns
“I didn’t perform well in certain scenarios.”
Don’t worry if you struggled with specific scenarios in the simulator. The feedback provided will help guide you on what to focus on. Use this information to improve your practical driving skills before test day.
“Can I retake the simulator lessons?”
While the simulator course is mandatory, there is typically no requirement to retake it unless you have missed your appointment or are directed to by your driving centre. The key is to apply the lessons learned during your simulator sessions to real-world driving.
6. Confidence Building
One of the major benefits of completing the simulator course is the boost in confidence it provides. Learners often feel more equipped to handle complex road situations, like heavy traffic or adverse weather conditions, after practising them in a simulated environment. By confronting and mastering difficult scenarios virtually, you’ll be better prepared mentally and technically for the challenges that real-world driving presents.