General Motors South Africa (GMSA) has sponsored a Chevrolet Spark to SimDrive, a new form of driving school that uses virtual simulation to teach students the ins and outs of driving before they get behind the wheel on S.A. roads.
SimDrive has seen great success in countries like Germany and the Netherlands, where it uses the same technology found in aircraft simulators to teach learner drivers the basics, such as clutch and accelerator control, through to ‘real’ driving scenarios that include traffic and pedestrians.
The mobile SimDrive unit currently travels between schools in Johannesburg, with plans for expansion in the future, and creator of the SimDrive initiative in South Africa, Anton Tromp says SimDrive is finding favour with more and more schools in South Africa as the concept grows in popularity.
Tromp says, “SimDrive is a unique concept whereby driving students are placed in a realistic car environment, complete with a dashboard, seatbelt, handbrake, gear lever and peripheral controls as they would find them in a real car. The system then allows the students to ‘drive’ the virtual car with a virtual driving instructor built in – with audible warnings for mistakes such as over-revving the engine or driving too quickly.”
“Our aim is to produce highly competent new drivers who practise safe driving techniques, which improves road safety and ultimately saves lives in South Africa,” concludes Tromp.
Chevrolet Brand Manager, Tim Hendon, says: “Chevrolet recognises the value in SimDrive and with the demand from students to be able to progress from virtual driving lessons directly into a real car with an instructor, the sponsorship came naturally.”
Adding further appeal to GMSA’s partnership with the SimDrive initiative is that the Chevrolet Spark is built locally in Port Elizabeth. The range includes five variants, but the company has created a specific model targeted at students, the Chevrolet Spark 1.2 Campus, which retails for a budget-friendly R106 600.