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Monday, February 12, 1973
NEW SCHEME TO TEACH DRIVING
Simulator To Be Introduced On Experimental Basis
The Government has agreed in principle to try out a "link trainer
system" for training and testing learner drivers.
Announcing this today, a spokesman for the Transport Department
said that tenders would soon be called for in the Government Gazette for the
installation of the necessary equipment.
He said that under the trial system, the learner driver would learn
the basic fundamentals of driving inside a simulated car with a screen in front
showing road conditions.
"The driver will be trained in the use of various controls, recognition
of traffic signs, and normal reactions to different traffic situations," he
said. "Any mistakes made will be automatically detected."
The intermediate tests of the learner driver would be undertaken on the
machine after a certain period of training.
After passing the test, the driver would still have to take actual driving
lessons on the roads before undergoing a final road test.
The spokesman said that this "link trainer system" would save a lot
of time and money for the learner driver by greatly reducing the amount of time
required to learn to drive up to intermediate standard.
"It will also reduce congestion on the roads by keeping the large
number of learner drivers away from them", he added.
But he stressed that the final decision on whether this system would
eventually become part of the normal driving tuition would depend on the results
of the trial.
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