Advertisement - Click to support our sponsors.

By Craig T. Kojima, Star-Bulletin
A driving simulator, such as this one demonstrated here in
July, will be used in driver's education classes
starting next month.

YMCA to offer
driving-sim classes

---

By Pat Gee
Star-Bulletin

The first driver's education simulators in the state and the nation will be introduced at classes starting Jan. 22 at the Atherton YMCA on University Avenue.

The YMCA is the only agency that will offer the state-of-the-art interactive computer training program, said Kathy Ahlo, YMCA driver education coordinator.

The machines, which before this have been used solely for training pilots and commercial and military drivers, are just in time for a new law that requires all drivers under 18 to complete driver's education before obtaining a driver's license. The law takes effect Monday.

To sign up To reserve a space in the YMCA's driver education classes, call 541-5250 by Jan. 8.

The simulators, provided by KQ Corporation of Utah, incorporate the features that a driver experiences while behind the wheel. These include a 180-degree field of view from the driver's seat, a dashboard with instruments and controls, steering and brake controls that give feedback, and an audio system that produces sounds and vibrations of driving on the road.

Kevin Curtis, chief executive officer of KQ, said, "I think most parents would prefer that their children experience a variety of unpredictable driving scenarios in a simulator, where their safety is guaranteed, as opposed to the open road, where a minor miscalculation could be tragic."

The YMCA will also offer the simulator classes at the Leeward and Nuuanu branches by March 5, Ahlo said. By that time, each location should have four simulators. But for the first six-week session at the Atherton, only one simulator will be available, allowing only 8 students per class, Ahlo said.

Simulators on the neighbor islands should be installed in April.

The classes are being offered in partnership with KQ and Drive Safe Hawaii, which will provide experienced instructors. The training program will cost $500 and consist of 30 hours of classroom instruction and five hours of simulation time. But students will have to find private instructors to give them an additional two hours of behind-the-wheel experience for an estimated $100, Ahlo said.

Students are also required by law to complete 50 hours of practice driving with their parents or a qualified licensed driver.

The program can provide instruction for up to 5,000 teens in 2001, and 7,000 to 8,000 teens per year thereafter.

For economically disadvantaged students, KQ is donating one seat per class to those who meet financial aid requirements established by the YMCA. Sponsors are also being sought to provide additional scholarships for disadvantaged students.

YMCA and state Department of Transportation spokespeople said KQ is a national leader in driving simulation and training techniques.