Driving Simulators NZ Ltd are the NZ Agent for
ECA Group, France.
In 2010, the first ECA car driving simulators were imported to NZ from France to add to the thousands used around the world.
Eca Group (previously Eca Faros) have been the world leader in simulation and robotics technology for 30+ years.
They manufacture Airbus flight simulators, port simulators, defences simulators and robotics, truck/bus, bike & scooter and emergency services training simulators under lights.
We are proud to provide our decade of experience using these efficient and reliable training tools as part of our business and are able to offer after-sales service at an exceptional level for installation, fault finding and training issues in New Zealand
We are passionate about finding a solution to the senseless road deaths occurring in NZ every year and believe the answer lies in training. Roads, speed, and vehicles have all been blamed; however, people still die on our roads.
We find every day people come in for a last-second training session prior to sitting a full or restricted test. It is very rare that they are actually up to the standard Excellence Driving Academy likes to present students for testing. More often than not, students are not doing vital head checks, scanning and using an adequate Hazard Awareness System to keep them and other road users safe.
Over the decade we have been in the driver training industry, our drivers pass their tests more frequently than the national average. Testing officers give us positive feedback that our student’s higher competency and skills are obvious, and issue a licence after the driving test 95/100 times.
Before 2010, the driver training industry had a typical attitude of “if it’s not broken then why fix it” and “we’ve done it this way for the last 80 years so why change now as I’m a great driver.” When we imported the first simulators we had to prove their merits as a training tool to the general population as well as the industry.
We set up our EXCELLENCE DRIVING ACADEMY unique on-road training system to run alongside the simulators. There is still very little documented research involving car driver training using simulators as the rest of the world did not feel it was warranted as they had been using them successfully for many years. Since then, many thousands of our students have benefited from the simulator and our methods.
US research shows that simulators train 3x faster, consistent with us being able to have students pass their restricted tests at 100% after only 12 or fewer hours behind the wheel. Most importantly it also highlights that these new drivers are up to 66% safer in the first 2 vulnerable years of driving alone. As our students have access to the Eca hazard training program, we believe that our students are included in these statistics. Very few of our fully trained drivers have been involved in serious accidents.
We train in a holistic way, finding the best method of learning for the student. It is never a one-method fits-all approach when you learn to drive with EXCELLENCE DRIVING ACADEMY.
Students are shown why things are done, as well as how they are achieved. When they don’t get it right, there is an opportunity for a discussion, further explanation, demonstration and a re-attempt. This is why we utilize the simulator so much. We click back into the SIMULATOR program, rerun the video replay and they get to do it again. No time is wasted trying to recreate the situation on-road or practising what they have already mastered.
Our beginners master the skill of scanning for hazards as soon as they are driving, they have been exposed to the equivalent of the first five years of driving and the top 20 causes of accidents via the Nottingham University Accident research included in the training we provide in the simulator. It is not theory but practical learning with hazard response techniques so when a driver comes across a similar situation on road, their response is more likely to be without hesitation.
Over the last decade, not only have the graphics and simulation improved, Eca continues to adapt and improve the simulators to simulate the NZ Driving environment. We have but a few simulators compared to the rest of the world but we have road signs, markings and rules matching those in NZ.
The simulator program is right-hand drive (left-hand drive available), automatic or manual transmission, with real physical car pedals, steering wheel, gearbox, and handbrake. It is not recommended that a motion platform be used as this causes too many students to feel sick.
Due to the complexity of software development, the driver feels bumps in the road, wind disturbances, etc, and visuals are displayed through 3x large LCD screens to provide great visuals without actual motion.
Students learn to drive in town, city, on open roads, hills, and motorways. First without traffic and then we add in traffic (high density), bad weather, night and day, and different vehicle types on 320 km of roads. There is a range of vehicle types, engine sizes, fuel type (no electric at this stage), tyres condition, and other safety features are all variable.
Eca has developed interactive software responses that vary according to a driver's actions. The many manual commands and continuously moving scenery make it very disturbing for a user. This is one of many reasons why Eca and other leading simulation companies do not utilize VR Google for driving instruction. Eca driving simulators are used in Finland as part of the compulsory training and testing process as there is an exceptional 1 hr night driving component that provides techniques for managing lights, passing and being passed, and pedestrian and cyclist awareness.
As the planet becomes more focused on reducing CO2 emissions, ECA's eco-driving module is not only relevant for drivers wanting to reduce fuel and maintenance costs related to driving but can also be taught over a 1 hr independent session to reduce their carbon emissions.
A Rehabilitation Program is available for the car driving simulator or a separate simulator with wheelchair access is available. The programming allows OTs to accurately gauge pedal pressure, cognitive function, eye function, reaction times and driving skills. It provides written feedback reports and is able to be used for rehabilitation driver training.
No matter where you live in NZ there is no excuse not to be fully skilled as a driver and be able to drive competently and confidently in any situation. All of this is taught in 100% safety with less anxiety so the information can be learned easily and retained between lessons. Modules can be self-managed by the student and each module requires a skill-based test to be completed before moving on to the next lesson.
After all the modules are completed there is an assessment drive (with print out of errors) to provide feedback to students, instructors or teachers on the driver’s adherence to road rules, essential road craft & skills. There is no bias or an instructor missing an error due to distraction.
