BY JOHN SNYDER
OF PASCACK PRESS
RIVER VALE, N.J.—Town officials and employees recently got behind the wheel of a county emergency driving simulator that provides a 240- degree virtual reality experience in both urban and suburban/rural environments.
One cab is familiar to those who work with fire trucks, school buses, ambulances, tractor trailers, busses, and dump trucks.
The other is for personnel navigating much more nimble police cruisers, cars, SUVs, vans, and ambulances.
The consoles run a rich variety of scenarios that instructors set up.
Driver training lasts approximately 45 minutes. Scenarios include orientation (to provide the driver with the “feel” of the simulator); evasive steering; emergency braking; basic skills (parallel parking and backing into a bay or loading dock); and emergency response.
According to River Vale Police Chief Sean Scheidle, the simulator was a great resource for officers—especially as it was delivered right to River Vale.
“The fact that we were able to have it on site allowed us to train our entire agency in no time. If we had to send officers to the academy we couldn’t have trained every one in a matter of days like we were able to in this case,” he told Pascack Press March 13.
Following the training, the officers received certificates from the Bergen County Law and Public Safety Institute.
Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco III unveiled the simulators last summer at One Bergen County Plaza. Tedesco said at the time that the simulators, both in one trailer, were unique in New Jersey.
The simulators let trainees experience fire calls, traffic stops, high-speed pursuits, appropriate use of sirens and lights, negotiation of crowded intersections, and other risk management skills. Bergen County municipalities can use the simulator for free.
Bergen County paid $92,000 for this initiative. The Bergen County Prosecutor’s forfeiture funds and two Joint Insurance funds kicked in an additional $90,000 in software upgrades and installation.