Driving simulators: what research shows about hazard training and where they fall short
What simulators can teach, where gains stop short and how to choose a program
Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation built this guide from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), federal training rules and published research on simulator and hazard training. Every source is listed at the end.
Why practice without risk appeals to families
In 2024, 2,899 teenagers ages 13 to 19 died in motor vehicle collisions [1]. Per mile driven, drivers ages 16 to 19 have a fatal crash rate just over three times that of drivers 20 and older [1]. Risk is especially high in the first months after a new driver gets a license [2].
For most new drivers, the hard part is not steering. It is seeing trouble before it starts. On a real road, a learner meets a given hazard only now and then, and a mistake can hurt someone.
A simulator can serve up the same situation again and again, safely. This guide draws on human factors research. Human factors is the study of how people see, think and act when they use tools and machines. For the scanning habits themselves, see our guide to hazard perception for new drivers.
What a driving simulator is
A driving simulator is a computer system that shows a road scene and reacts to what the driver does. Most respond to steering, gas and brake. Some also track where the driver’s eyes go.
- Screen based hazard training. Videos or animated scenes play on a computer or tablet. The learner taps where a hazard might appear.
- Desktop or portable simulator. A computer is paired with a game style wheel and pedals. One children’s hospital research team uses portable laptop setups like this, with eye tracking on the screen [3].
- Fixed base cab. A seat, dashboard and controls sit in front of large screens. “Fixed base” means the cab does not move. The same team’s cab has three large monitors, built in mirrors and head mounted eye tracking [3].
- Motion base simulator. The cab rides on a platform that tilts to mimic braking and turning. These cost far more and are found mostly in research centers.
- Virtual reality headset. The driver wears a headset that fills their view.
Comparison compiled by Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
Types of driving simulators
| Type | Typical setting | What it does best |
|---|---|---|
| Screen based hazard training | Home, classroom | Teaching where to look and what to expect |
| Desktop or portable | Home, school, clinic | Basic controls and practice scenarios |
| Fixed base cab | Driving school, fleet center, lab | Realistic seating, mirrors, eye tracking |
| Motion base | Research center, specialized training | The feel of braking and turning |
| Virtual reality headset | Varies | A wide, immersive view |
Realism has two sides. Physical fidelity is how real the simulator looks and feels. Functional fidelity is whether the task makes you think the way real driving does. For hazard skills, the second matters more. Even simple computer programs and videos have improved young drivers’ hazard scores [4]. A costly cab is not automatically a better teacher.
What research shows for new drivers
Skills improve inside the simulator. A 2024 systematic review, which gathers and grades all the research on one question, looked at 15 simulator training studies of young new drivers [5]. Training quickly improved simulated driving, such as lane keeping and speed control [5]. But it was unclear whether training improved on road skills or safety, right away or over time [5]. The authors rated the evidence as low quality. They said simulators can add to driver education but should not replace any part of it [5]. Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation gives families the same advice.
Hazard anticipation can be trained. This means predicting where danger may come from before it appears. An earlier review found 19 studies of this training for drivers under 21 [4]. Methods included computer programs, videos, simulation and commentary driving (talking aloud about what you see). In every study, trained drivers improved on some hazard measures [4]. But most checked results within days, only four tested drivers on real roads, and none tracked collisions [4].
Evidence on collisions is thin. NHTSA’s guide Countermeasures That Work gives hazard perception training two stars for effectiveness and lists its use as low [6]. One large California study found lower crash risk among young men who took a computer based hazard course, but no effect among young women [6]. Our hazard perception guide covers that study in more detail.
The table below shows how to read these studies. Each row down is harder to study and tells you more.
Comparison compiled by Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
How to read simulator training studies
| What the study measured | What it can tell you | What it cannot tell you |
|---|---|---|
| Scores in the same program | The learner got better at that program | Whether skills work on real roads |
| Eye glances in a new simulator drive | Scanning habits may carry over | How the learner acts when stakes are real |
| Glances or errors on a real road | Skills carried over, at least for a while | Whether collisions go down |
| Police reported crashes over months | Whether the program improves safety | Which part of the program helped |
Why skills don’t always carry over to the road
Researchers call this transfer: whether a skill learned in one setting shows up in another. Transfer is often narrow.
One simulator study shows how narrow. A program taught new drivers to keep glances inside the car short while doing tasks such as finding the hazard flasher switch [7]. Trained drivers cut their long in car glances [7]. But when asked to read a roadside sign, the trained drivers did no better. Both groups often looked away too long [7]. The skill stayed tied to the task that was practiced.
Several things can weaken transfer:
- People expect trouble. In a simulator, drivers know a hazard is coming. On a real road, hazards are rare, and surprise is the problem.
- Nothing real is at stake. Some learners take chances they would never take in a real car.
- The controls feel different. Brake pressure, steering feel and the sense of speed often differ.
- Skills fade. Most studies test drivers within days [4], so little is known about how long gains last.
Feedback seems to help. In a small Canadian study, older drivers practiced lane changes in a simulator. Those who also got specific feedback doubled their blind spot checks on a real road, from 32.3% to 64.9% of lane changes [8]. A group that practiced without that feedback did not improve [8].
Simulators as a skills check
Simulators can also test skills. Researchers at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia built a virtual driving assessment (VDA), a computer based test drive filled with situations that often lead to serious collisions [9]. Results sort drivers into groups based on vehicle control, braking, speeding up, and habits such as speeding or tailgating [9].
Ohio tried the VDA at driver licensing centers from 2017 to 2019 [9]. The research team reports that drivers in the two best scoring groups were less likely to fail the road test, by 29% and 11% [9]. Drivers in the two weakest groups were more likely to fail, by 34% and 19% [9].
A later study followed 16,914 Ohio drivers under 25 who took the VDA at licensing [2]. Compared with the average driver, crash risk was 10% lower for the best group [2]. It was 11% higher for the group with major issues and dangerous behavior [2].
These differences are real but modest. A test result can point practice toward weak spots. A good score is no reason to cut back on supervised driving.
Older drivers and recovery after injury or illness
Simulators are common in rehabilitation, the care that helps people regain skills after an illness or injury. A 2025 scoping review, a broad map of research on a topic, found 224 articles on simulators in neurological rehabilitation [10]. Most used simulators to help judge fitness to drive. Only 25 tested them as a treatment [10].
Those treatment studies reported benefits for people recovering from stroke, traumatic brain injury or Parkinson’s disease [10]. Gains came mainly in awareness and tactical skills, the moment to moment choices such as when to change lanes [10]. They were larger in people with milder impairments [10].
For older drivers in general, the picture is mixed. A review of randomized trials found that education and context specific training, a group that included on road and simulator training, did not improve safety outcomes [11]. Cognitive training, by contrast, was linked to almost 30% fewer at fault collisions [11].
If you are recovering from a car accident injury, a simulator may be part of a driving evaluation. The decision to return to driving belongs to your health care team, a qualified driver rehabilitation specialist and your state licensing agency.
Who else uses simulators, and where to find them
- Driving schools and school programs add scenarios that are hard to stage safely, such as a driver running a red light. Our guide to choosing driver education explains how to judge a program as a whole.
- Fleets and commercial driver training. Federal training rules for new commercial drivers list driving simulation devices as one way to deliver theory, or knowledge, instruction [12]. Behind the wheel training means the trainee has actual control of the vehicle on a range or public road [12]. So simulator time counts as knowledge training, not road training.
- Community groups and nonprofits bring simulators to fairs and school events. A single demo can start a good talk, but it is not training.
- Road agencies and researchers use simulators to see how drivers respond to road designs. A federal highway research lab reports that simulator testing helped ease safety worries about the diverging diamond interchange, a newer interchange layout [13].
Where can you find one? Look to driving schools that offer simulator lessons, school driver education programs, commercial driver training schools and hospital based driver rehabilitation programs. For home use, electronics stores sell game wheels and pedals, and some training providers offer hazard modules online. Fleets and road agencies may hire training providers or data analysis vendors to build scenarios and score results.
How to choose a simulator program: questions to ask
Judge a program by what it trains and how it was tested, not by its graphics. Ask these questions in order.
- What specific skill does it target, such as spotting hidden hazards or keeping glances short?
- Was it tested only in the simulator, or also on real roads or in crash records?
- Does it give feedback after each mistake and let the learner try again?
- Does it teach where to look for hidden hazards, not just how to react?
- How long are sessions, and how does staff handle simulator sickness?
- Does it tell the supervising adult what to practice next on the road?
- What data does it collect, who sees it, and how long is it kept?
Simulator sickness and common mistakes
Simulator sickness is a queasy, motion sickness feeling that can strike during simulator or virtual reality use [14]. In one study, 52 of 88 older drivers dropped out before they finished a desktop simulator task [14]. Women and people with a past history of motion sickness were more likely to quit, and so were those reporting more symptoms [14]. Risk varies by setup. The children’s hospital team reports very few cases with its portable laptop system [3].
To lower the risk, keep first sessions short and the room cool, and take breaks. Treat nausea, dizziness or a cold sweat as a signal to stop, not to push through. Wait until symptoms pass before driving a real car.
Common mistakes also limit what a simulator can do:
- Treating simulator time as a swap for supervised road hours.
- Letting a teen play it like a racing game, which rewards speed and risk.
- Skipping the talk after each scenario, where much of the learning happens.
- Assuming a high score means a driver is ready to drive alone.
A session routine and equipment care
Parents, instructors and fleet trainers can use the same routine.
- Pick one skill for the session, such as scanning at intersections.
- Start with a short warm up drive to get used to the controls.
- Run a few scenarios, pausing after each one.
- Ask: What did you see? When did you see it? What would you do next time?
- Replay any scenario the learner missed, and watch for a change.
- Within a few days, practice the same skill on a real road with a supervising adult.
- Note what was practiced and what still needs work.
Our supervised driving practice plan gives a full road curriculum to pair with simulator work.
Simulator equipment needs simple, regular care:
- Recalibrate the wheel and pedals as the maker directs, and check that the brake responds the same each time.
- Install software updates so scenarios and scoring stay current.
- Wipe down shared wheels, pedals and headsets between users, and keep cables out of walkways.
- Protect stored driver data, and delete it on the schedule you promised.
Frequently asked questions
Can simulator time replace supervised driving hours?
No. Studies show clear gains inside simulators but no clear proof of safer driving on real roads. Real traffic adds surprise, real stakes and the true feel of a car. Use a simulator to prepare for a skill, then practice it on the road with a supervising adult. If you hope to count simulator time toward state driver education or practice hour rules, check with your state licensing agency first.
Are home driving games useful for new drivers?
Most are built for fun, not safety, and they reward speed. If you use a home setup, choose software built around hazard spotting, and talk through each drive. Focus on where to look and what might happen next, not on lap times.
Is a virtual reality headset better than screens?
Not necessarily. A headset gives a wider view, but realism alone does not make a better teacher. What matters is whether the task trains the right thinking skill and gives feedback. Ask any provider what testing supports their program, and keep early sessions short in case of simulator sickness.
My teen feels dizzy in the simulator. What should we do?
Stop the session and let your teen rest. Do not have them drive a real car until they feel fully normal. Next time, try shorter sessions, a cooler room and more breaks, or switch to screen based hazard training. If symptoms keep coming back, focus on supervised road practice.
Can a simulator tell whether an older parent should keep driving?
Not on its own. A simulator can be one part of a driving evaluation, along with vision and thinking tests and an on road drive. A qualified driver rehabilitation specialist can put those pieces together. Questions about medical fitness to drive belong with your parent’s health care provider or your state licensing agency.
Do trucking schools and employers use simulators?
They can. Federal training rules for new commercial drivers list simulation devices as a way to deliver theory instruction [12]. Behind the wheel training means the trainee controls a real vehicle on a range or public road [12]. Employers who use simulators should still pair them with on road coaching and assessment.
The bottom line
Recommendation from Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation encourages families to use a simulator to add to supervised driving, never to replace it. A driving simulator is a safe place to meet hazards that would be dangerous to practice for real. Research shows it can sharpen hazard skills, at least in the short term and inside the simulator. It has not yet shown that those gains reliably carry over to real roads and fewer crashes.
Treat a simulator as a rehearsal space, not a shortcut. Pick a program that trains a clear skill and gives feedback. Keep sessions short, and take every lesson out to the road with a supervising adult.
Related articles
- Hazard perception for new drivers: how to scan and spot trouble early
- Choosing driver education: how to find a course that builds safe drivers
- Supervised driving practice plan: a 6 stage guide for parents and teens
- Older driver safety: how to keep driving safely and confidently
- Employee driver training: how to train and road test workers who drive
Sources and further reading
- 1Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Fatality Facts 2024: Teenagers. Posted June 2026. Data year: 2024. iihs.org/…/teenagers
- 2Walshe EA, Elliott MR, Cheng S, et al. Driving Skills at Licensure and Time to First Crash. Pediatrics 152(5), published November 2023 (via PubMed; DOI 10.1542/peds.2022-060817). Data year: Ohio licensing and police crash records for 16,914 young drivers (years as reported in study). pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37842724
- 3Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Center for Injury Research and Prevention. CIRP Driving Simulators. Updated July 21, 2026. injury.research.chop.edu/…/driving-simulators
- 4McDonald CC, Goodwin AH, Pradhan AK, Romoser MRE, Williams AF. A Review of Hazard Anticipation Training Programs for Young Drivers. Journal of Adolescent Health 57(1 Suppl):S15-23, published July 2015 (via PubMed; DOI 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2015.02.013). Data year: studies published 1980-2013. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26112734
- 5Krasniuk S, Toxopeus R, Knott M, McKeown M, Crizzle AM. The effectiveness of driving simulator training on driving skills and safety in young novice drivers: A systematic review of interventions. Journal of Safety Research 91:20-37, published 2024 (via PubMed; DOI 10.1016/j.jsr.2024.08.002). Data year: studies published 2010-2022. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39998522
- 6National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Hazard Perception Training. Countermeasures That Work, Young Drivers chapter. Accessed October 2026 (no date shown). nhtsa.gov/…/other-strategies-behavior-change
- 7Divekar G, Pradhan AK, Masserang KM, Reagan I, Pollatsek A, Fisher DL. A simulator evaluation of the effects of attention maintenance training on glance distributions of younger novice drivers inside and outside the vehicle. Transportation Research Part F 20, published September 2013 (via PubMed; DOI 10.1016/j.trf.2013.07.004). pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24415905
- 8Lavallière M, Simoneau M, Tremblay M, Laurendeau D, Teasdale N. Active training and driving-specific feedback improve older drivers’ visual search prior to lane changes. BMC Geriatrics 12:5, published March 2012 (via PubMed; DOI 10.1186/1471-2318-12-5). pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22385499
- 9Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Center for Injury Research and Prevention. Virtual Driving Assessment. Accessed October 2026. Data year: 2017 to 2019 Ohio pilot; 2025 primary care total. injury.research.chop.edu/…/virtual-driving-assessment
- 10Trost W, Wellauer ZH, KĂĽst J, Hackenfort M, Bujan B. State-of-the-art applications of driving simulators in neurorehabilitation: A scoping review. Clinical Rehabilitation 40(1):123-142, published online November 2025 (via PubMed; DOI 10.1177/02692155251393560). Data year: studies published through September 2025. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41223061
- 11Fausto BA, Adorno Maldonado PF, Ross LA, Lavallière M, Edwards JD. A systematic review and meta-analysis of older driver interventions. Accident Analysis and Prevention 149:105852, published November 2020 (via PubMed; DOI 10.1016/j.aap.2020.105852). Data year: randomized trials included in the review (31 studies). pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33142161
- 12Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. 49 CFR 380.605 Definitions (entry-level driver training). Up to date as of October 1, 2026. ecfr.gov/…/section-380.605
- 13Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center. Human Factors Laboratory Overview. Updated August 18, 2026. highways.dot.gov/…/human-factors
- 14Matas NA, Nettelbeck T, Burns NR. Dropout during a driving simulator study: A survival analysis. Journal of Safety Research 55:159-169, published 2015 (via PubMed; DOI 10.1016/j.jsr.2015.08.004). pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26683559
This article reflects the safety priorities of new driver training and hazard awareness. It is general education, not legal, medical, insurance or financial advice. Research and rules change, so verify details with official sources. For your own situation, talk with a licensed driving instructor, a hospital driver rehabilitation program, your health care provider or your state licensing agency. Reviewed October 2026.
Cite this article: Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation. “Driving simulators: what research shows about hazard training and where they fall short.” drivewithcare.org, https://drivewithcare.org/driving-simulator-hazard-training-research/. Reviewed October 2026.
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