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San Antonio Police Department Sees 75 Percent Drop in Its Intersection Accidents for First Six Months of 2000

17 July 2000

Instructor Credits Driving Simulator for Improved SAPD Driver Safety

     
    SAN ANTONIO and SALT LAKE CITY - San Antonio police officers have been 
involved in approximately 75 percent fewer automobile accidents at intersections 
during the first six months of 2000.

    According to statistics obtained from the San Antonio Police Department,
its officers were involved in only 15 intersection accidents between
January 1, 2000 and June 30, 2000.  During the same period in 1999, the SAPD
reported 58 intersection accidents.

    Ernest Trevino, driving instructor for the SAPD, believes the main factor
for the dramatic decrease in officer accidents is the department's recent
purchase and use of a state-of-the-art driver training simulator.

    "We believed a driving simulator would augment our training program by
allowing officers to practice different driving scenarios without injuring
themselves or damaging vehicles," Trevino said.  "At the same time, our hope
was that a simulator would help reduce our department's accidents, and the
results have more than exceeded our expectations."

    The SAPD purchased a PatrolSim(TM) simulator from I-Sim Corporation for
the department's officer training program.  I-Sim, a Salt Lake City-based
developer and manufacturer of driving simulation equipment, has more than
25 PatrolSim units in law enforcement agencies throughout the United States.

    PatrolSim driving simulators use I-Sim's state-of-the-art simulation
technology to provide a highly realistic training environment.  The open-seat
driving station incorporates I-Sim's vehicle dynamics, preset and
user-programmable traffic scenarios, and sophisticated road surface software
to ensure a true-to-life experience for drivers of all abilities.

    "The I-Sim simulator has literally saved lives in San Antonio," Trevino
said.  "The PatrolSim has decreased our intersection collisions with
astronomical success, and our officers are now better and more aware drivers.
We have complete confidence in I-Sim and the effectiveness of its simulators."

    Two thousand of the SAPD employees drive patrol cars as part of their job
description.  Of those employees, 900 have already been trained on the
PatrolSim driving simulator.

    In conjunction with I-Sim, the SAPD has designed a training program with
scenarios that allow officers to sharpen their judgment and decision-making
skills in routine patrol and emergency response situations.  As part of the
initial training, the department requires officers to drive in the simulator
for two hours.

    "We expect to have all 2,000 of our officers complete initial training in
the PatrolSim by the end of the year," Trevino said.  "Each officer will then
take a refresher course in the PatrolSim every year."

    "Our goal is to create safer drivers and safer roads for America," said
Reg Welles, president of I-Sim.  "The experience of the San Antonio Police
Department demonstrates the significant benefits of simulation training and
confirms the capability and quality of our simulators, not only for the law
enforcement community, but also for civilians."

    Headquartered in Salt Lake City, I-Sim Corporation is a leading developer
of high-performance wheeled-vehicle simulators for driver training in the law
enforcement, trucking, military, research and emergency-vehicle markets.
I-Sim's simulators provide highly realistic driving experiences without the
risk and expense associated with real-world training.