MOBILE COUNTY, Ala. — The Mobile County Commission has implemented two state-of-the-art motor vehicle and heavy truck driving simulators to enhance training for Mobile County Public Works employees and Sheriff’s Office employees. Benefits of simulation training for drivers include:

• Providing a safe and realistic environment for practicing split-second decision-making
• Encouraging positive choices
• Enhancing situational awareness
• Improving spatial understanding
• Reducing risk to drivers and fleet

The simulators were installed in January, and the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office is nearing the completion of driver training for its employees. Simulator safety training for Mobile County Public Works employees is underway. This initiative underscores the commission’s commitment to improving road safety and reducing accidents involving county-operated vehicles. “If the simulators prevent one accident, they more than pay for themselves,” said Tim Smith, risk manager for Mobile County.

The simulators will allow Mobile County to:

• Train new hires
• Further develop long-time drivers’ skills
• Retrain personnel following accidents or collisions

“The simulator is a way to encourage good driving habits,” said David Foley, public service supervisor with Mobile County, who trains public works employees on the new system. “The simulator gives me an idea of what they are doing in the vehicle. I can’t follow them in the truck everywhere they go, but I can see it in the simulation.”