Driver VR training: The next step in road safety

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  Quantumrun Foresight
• August 1, 2022

Insight summary

The truck driver shortage has led logistics companies to employ virtual reality (VR) simulators for immersive driver training. Meanwhile, augmented reality (AR) further enriches training by overlaying real-world data, aiding in real-time updates and safer driving practices. The broader impact includes safer roads, reduced healthcare burdens, and aligning with sustainable transportation goals.

Driver VR training context

Truck driver shortage is a significant issue, especially in the US, where forecasts indicate that 90,000 drivers will have to be replaced during the 2020s to meet market demands. Many logistics companies are using VR simulators to provide immersive learning opportunities for drivers, teaching them how to operate heavy equipment safely and efficiently. 

Training has become crucial for the industry. In Canada, the Humboldt bus incident in 2018 (a coach bus and semi-trailer truck collided and killed 16 people) highlighted the need for standardized commercial driver training. As a result, the government implemented a Mandatory Entry-Level Training (MELT) program. MELT is a more rigorous standard that promotes safety and in-depth practice for new drivers.

Supply chain management company UPS is one of the early adopters of this digital training, starting to put drivers in VR simulators as part of basic safety training in 2017. VR solves a classic training dilemma: how do you safely prepare trainees to deal with dangerous or extraordinary situations? Meanwhile, technology firms are jumping at the opportunity to create VR driver simulations for logistics companies. An example is Edmonton-based firm Serious Labs, which created a VR simulator to help train truck drivers that it plans to have available for commercial use by 2024. 

Disruptive impact

Through VR simulations, trainees can confront hazardous road conditions like ice and skidding without any real-life risk. This immersive experience offers a deeper understanding of unpredictable road scenarios, such as encountering a fast-approaching car. Consequently, this technology aids in efficient learning, potentially reducing training durations and cutting down on associated costs for businesses.

Moreover, the incorporation of AR enhances the realism of driver training. By superimposing additional information on real-world footage, artificial intelligence (AI) can highlight road conditions and identify potential distractions. This integration, when coupled with telematics, a fusion of telecommunications, vehicular technology, and computer science, provides real-time updates on unsafe conditions and impending accidents. It empowers drivers with timely information, facilitating quicker parking spot identification and traffic analysis. 

In the broader context, implementing VR-based driver training can lead to safer roadways and reduced accidents, potentially decreasing the burden on healthcare and emergency services. Additionally, it aligns with sustainable transportation goals, as well-trained drivers are more likely to adopt fuel-efficient driving practices, contributing to reduced emissions. Governments may need to consider incentivizing the adoption of VR training within the transport industry to foster these positive outcomes. 

Implications of driver VR training

Wider implications of driver VR training may include: 

• Supply chain safety rates and delivery times improving as more drivers are provided with efficient training.
• Similar VR training programs being adopted across other segments of the supply chain, from cargo ships to urban package delivery vans.
• Delivery, supply chain, and shipping companies integrating a combination of VR, AR, and actual road tests to create a more comprehensive training program that adapts real-time to changes on the road.
• Algorithms adapting to the trainee experience and adjusting the simulations based on the particular needs of the trainee.
• Reduction of carbon emissions as more drivers spend time learning in VR rather than making multiple runs across highways.
• Governments incentivizing the trucking industry to invest in technologies that can train drivers faster while eliminating accidents.

Questions to consider

• Would you be interested in experiencing VR driver training?
• How else do you think this technology will help drivers prepare better for life on the road?