Simulated programme teaches driver safety

RALLY car driver Rhys Gardner started teaching young people car control skills in a paddock as part of a motorsport programme.

‘‘At the time I couldn’t get insurance for the process because there was a power pole in the paddock,’’ Mr Gardner said.

He was already using simulation for motorsport training.

That spawned the idea for CoDriVR, a hardware and software simulation package to teach young people road safety and car control.

‘‘To be fair, I didn’t know quite how difficult it would be,’’ he said.

‘‘We are more than five years into the project.’’

Mr Gardner’s company Gfactor Technologies is poised to announce a regional partnership in March, which will be launched later in the year.

CoDriVR combines software and hardware — a compact chassis with a steering wheel, pedals and virtual reality headwear.

Mr Gardner wants to see the system rolled out in schools.

The game provides intense awareness situations in five to sevenminute experiences, without the risk if the pupil makes a mistake.

For example, the virtual reality headgear allows a driver in CoDriVR to pull up to an intersection, look through side windows and check blindspots.

‘‘Because we track where you’re looking, we know if you have seen something or if you haven’t,’’ Mr Gardner said.

It also taught cellphone awareness in vehicles, he said.

A driver could be going on a virtual open road when a cellphone went off.

‘‘We have had adults, not so much teenagers, physically reach into space in virtual reality to grab the phone.’’