The driver’s education classroom received a cutting-edge upgrade this semester at Ogdensburg Free Academy.
To give students a hands-on experience in a safe environment, Driving Instructor Ryan Davis brought a driving simulator into the classroom.
“We will be using the simulator all semester,” Davis said. “I believe OFA is the only district that offers Driver Education full time. However I know Canton offers it as well. I believe having the simulator is a great addition to the Driver Education program here at Ogdensburg Free Academy. Students have enjoyed the simulator and it also offers additional practice for young drivers who are looking to gain experience in a safe environment.”
During the 16 lessons in the simulator, students will have the opportunity to learn skills from parallel parking and maintaining a safe following distance to understanding the dangers of speeding and distracted driving while safely seated in the classroom. Students can also use the simulator to learn skills at their own pace against unsafe conditions such as rain, snow, and nighttime driving.
Beyond the preset lessons, the driving simulator features options for real time violation tracking, unlimited practice driving, and a nearly limitless combination of unique driving scenarios.
Davis says that students have really enjoyed it.
“I think it’s really cool. I thought it was weird when I first did it. Getting used to using buttons to look left, right, and buckle up was tricky, but I think the simulator is cool and awesome to have,” driver’s education student Tanner Williams said. “When I was watching my friend use the simulator, a cat ran out and he hit it. It’s good that this can happen in the simulator instead of on the actual road.”
Williams also mentioned that other variables such as a rapidly approaching ambulance could be expected in the simulator. The simulator can also present variable traffic density and experience driving in cities, on highways, rural, commercial, parking lots, off-road, and residential drives.
“I think it’s pretty immersive. It’s very accurate with different situations that you’d see on the road driving,” driver’s education student Kayden Skelly said. “It’s very real time reactive to pressing the pedals, the steering, looking left and right to check blind spots. I wasn’t expecting the amount of features it has. It is a safer way for kids to learn what different situations that they would see in real life without the possible harmful factors that follow.”
The driving simulator will remain a part of the driver’s education classroom experience beyond this semester.
