Road Safety Commissioner Adrian Warner test drives the new simulator.
Road Safety Commissioner Adrian Warner joined the Minister for Transport, Hon. Rita Saffioti MLA and the Minister for Road Safety Hon. David Michael at the University of Western Australia today for the launch of Australia’s most advanced driving simulator.
The Commission has invested $450,000 in the high-tech simulator to help researchers at the Western Australia Centre for Road Safety Research study a wide range of road safety issues.
The project, a partnership with Main Roads ($160,000) and UWA ($100,000), is an important new development for road safety.
'The simulator is a prime example of how using high-end technology and evidence-based scientific research can help to reduce road trauma,' said the Commissioner.
The custom-made simulator, built in Melbourne by CKAS Mechatronics over nine months, comprises an actual vehicle linked to a high-end computer system. A hemispherical screen surrounds the front and sides of the vehicle, which is placed on motion actuators. High-end computers with state-of-the-art AV simulation software are used to create a wide range of driving scenarios without the crash risk. Research participants see and enter an actual vehicle, rather than a partial, or cutaway vehicle, giving an important sense of realism to the driving experience.
Associate Professor Paul Roberts, Deputy Director of UWA’s Centre for Road Safety Research, said the simulator would allow researchers to test new road layouts under a range of different traffic and weather conditions.
'The simulator will also enable us to safely test driver responses to challenges such as mobile phone distractions, fatigue and the impact of drugs and alcohol,' he said.
Both Ministers said that the new technology represented a very important addition to Western Australia’s arsenal of tools to help make our roads better and safer.
The Minister for Transport, Hon. Rita Saffioti MLA and the Minister for Road Safety Hon. David Michael at the simulator launch.
The simulator will also support collaboration among researchers and PhD and Honours students to improve road safety across multiple disciplines, including road safety, engineering, ophthalmology, psychology, psychology, physiology and mathematics.
'Investing in new technology and working together is vital to save lives and to prevent serious injury on our roads,' said the Commissioner.
For a look at the new stimulator, check out the video below.
