Kolkata has a car simulator

KOLKATA - The Automobile Association of Eastern India (AAEI) has introduced car simulator to Kolkata.

Brought from Mumbai, the simulator costs the AAEI Rs 15 lakh. It gives new wannabe drivers an opportunity to learn driving indoors through scientifically designed lessons, before they can actually step on roads for actual experience.

It is designed to look like the prototype of a car with brake, accelerator, steering, clutch and gear in place.

It offers a computerized driving experience by simulating real-life regular and adverse conditions.

“The simulator is a scientific device. Simulator training has been started in the whole world. We will be able to prepare proper drivers through simulator training. Simulator is run by a scientific system. It is computerized and it has three LCDs. It is a total car by itself. It has been installed in a room and one is trained sitting inside the car,” said Suman Chattopadhyay, Honorary Secretary, AAEI.

The simulator teaches the student to drive over a range of terrains and during different climatic conditions. It is all together a good experience for new drivers.

“It is really a path breaking thing. You don’t have to first only go to the road and learn about it. Here you can learn in a computerized and a very scientific method,” said Gargi Chakraborty, a student.

According to instructor, Ramsundar Saha, “There are three instruction menus for training. There are cockpit drill, basic and advanced training. Cockpit drill familiarizes the driver with the inbuilt accessories in the car through graphics to increase his knowledge. In basic and advanced training, one learns things like starting the car, off-on, left turn, u-turns. After driving, one can see the performance report and we guide on the mistakes.:

The AAEI provides eight sittings for training by simulator and six lessons on the roads for practical training.

Apart from Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai and Ahmedabad have already introduced simulators to teach driving. By Ajitha Menon (ANI)