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| Georgetown Police Officer Neil Turmenne navigates a training course in a driving simulator that was parked in the lot at the town's police department. Wicked Local photo by Ian Hurley |
Georgetown police go on virtual patrol
Driving lessons save town on insurance
By Sally Applegate / Wicked Local Georgetown
GateHouse News Service
Posted Jul 16, 201
What was going on in that big trailer at the police station?
The answer?
Police were training in a driving simulator provided by the Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association.
This was Georgetown Officer Derek Jones’ experience:
A German shepherd lurches in front of Jones’ cruiser as he responds to a robbery in progress. He applies his brakes in order to avoid the dog. Crisis averted, he continues on his way. Spotting the robbery suspects’ white van ahead, he blocks it in with his cruiser and uses the microphone to warn the suspects. “It feels real,” Jones said, noting that the steering wheel is stiffer than the one he’s used to. “My heart’s going … your level of alertness is up.” The world whips by on both sides as he drives, scenery and unexpected obstacles like cars, people, and highway obstructions visible through the large front driver and passenger’s side windows. He avoids cars in intersections, and slows for a railroad crossing. Jones is one of several Georgetown officers who
trained in small groups for three days inside the 30-foot long mobile trailer. The computer-driven controls include a cruiser dashboard, complete with two-way radio.
What can the simulator do?
The simulator realistically recreates more than 150 driving conditions that operators of police cruisers, fire trucks, ambulances and other emergency vehicles may encounter, including snow, rain, fog and darkness. The course also includes one-on-one training for fire, police and other public safety employees on emergency procedures and safe driving techniques.
Once a town completes this program, it is eligible for insurance premium credits through the association’s Rewards Programs, reducing its property and casualty insurance costs.
“What we do here is what you do in the real world,” said instructor Dave Bastien, who worked for 25 years with the Warwick, R.I., police.
Bastien said the training emphasizes defensive driving, designed to increase safety for both officers and the public. It is Bastien at the microphone, playing the role of the dispatcher during the actual virtual training drives.
What are some of the thing covered in the class sessions?
The classroom training before the virtual driving includes a section on using braking systems, and negotiating intersections during a chase. Bastien uses a sturdy toy police cruiser, school bus and Volkswagen Beetle to act out situations.
“Massachusetts drivers are ranked the fourth-worst in the country,” Bastien said. “Emergency vehicle drivers have to comply with traffic laws. Why would you take the risk of proceeding through an intersection with another vehicle arriving simultaneously? You have to be smart all day long.”
How does this benefit Georgetown?
According to the insurance association, public safety employees see an average 10 to25 percent reduction in accident frequency after completing the driving safety course.
“We appreciate MIAA coming into the community,” Georgetown police Chief James Mulligan said. “It allows us to make sure Georgetown police officers are well trained while operating any marked vehicles under any type of conditions. It’s cost-effective because it’s virtual and there is no risk to the public or the officers.”
 
This article originally appeared in the Georgetown Record
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