Simulator-Based Driving Training in Low-Speed Maneuvering for Swedish Police Students

Abstract

Driving simulators are a common tool for researching and practicing driver behaviors. Despite this, research on the use of driving simulators within the basic police training in Nordic countries is sparse. Therefore, the purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to evaluate and compare students' driving ability regarding low-speed maneuvering in tight spaces, during a limited part of their education, based on the type of training (simulator only, courtyard only, or 50/50) they receive. 83 Swedish police students, divided into four classes, attending their second semester at the police program, participated in the study. These four classes were divided into three different experimental groups. The simulation group (two classes, n = 41) only practiced driving using a driving simulator. The 50/50 group (one class, n = 22) practiced driving a vehicle in the courtyard and in the simulator. The courtyard group (one class, n = 20) only practiced driving a vehicle in a courtyard. The results showed that there were no statistically significant differences between type of training and performance on the examination regarding low-speed maneuvering in tight spaces. The findings are discussed in terms of their implications for the use of driving simulators in higher education, more specifically in police basic training programs.