1 Pedagogic aspects of simulator training

Increased application of driving simulators in the domain of driver training is desirable for ecological, economical and didactic reasons. Among the benefits are low physical risks for a trainee, possibility to repeat a wide range of situations, high controllability of situation and possibility to train for situations that occur rarely in the real life. However, simply experiencing a simulated environment does not mean an effective training. Simulation must be used in a thoughtful, well-planned manner that includes identification of training needs, proper design of scenarios, appropriate performance measurement and feedback to the learner. Optimal didactical approach should be very important when considering the whole simulator training process. Driver education is a long-life learning process and the usage of driver simulators in driver training creates a new learning environment. A wide range of methodological and pedagogical approaches should be taken into account in developing new learning programmes with use of driving simulators. In this paper different pedagogic aspects and traces main approaches to learning such as behavioral, cognitive and socio-cultural and relational perspectives are mentioned. The paper also deals with best practices in driver simulator training (both basic training and enhanced education). Some main conclusions are delineated, based on knowledge coming from European projects on driving simulators, and other available literature