Driving Simulator Prepares Sheriff’s Deputies for the Unexpected

Brown County Sheriff’s deputies honed their driving skills Tuesday as they trained on the Texas Association of Counties’ (TAC) driving simulator.

County law enforcement and road and bridge staff face hazards every time they get behind the wheel at work.  TAC is helping reduce those risks through its innovative driving simulator.  The unit can even be programmed to simulate different types of patrol units such as a sedan-style patrol car or a Tahoe.

“My goal is to use the driving simulator to reduce cost to the county by reducing collisions and injuries to county drivers,” said Don Courtney, driving simulator specialist with TAC.  Courtney has been training drivers with the simulator for approximately 10 years.

TAC’s driving simulator creates real-world driving conditions in a high-tech environment that replicates situations drivers may actually encounter while on the road.  Since its launch in 2000, more than 6,400 county drivers in three-quarters of the state’s counties have used it to enhance their ability to make life-saving, split second decisions in often dangerous driving conditions.

Courtney, as the trainer, is able to control traffic, pedestrians and other variables on a call that can give law enforcement officers trouble.  The simulator tests drivers on vision, the space cushion (distance between cars), looking left and right and unexpected obstacles and conditions including bad weather of all kinds, pedestrians, and other vehicles.

“Studies have shown that driver-training programs effectively reduce risks while educating drivers on safe-driving measures,” Courtney said.  “Even professional drivers can slip into bad habits behind the wheel.  The simulator training reinforces good driving habits that help improve employee safety and make them better prepared for the unexpected.”

Brown County Sheriff Bobby Grubbs stated that he was glad the deputies were offered the opportunity to train in the simulator.

“It’s really worthwhile.  It makes us stop and pay attention to what we’re doing,” said Grubbs.  “It makes us take a closer look at ourselves and hopefully makes us better drivers.”

Courtney summed up the importance of driver’s safety and defensive driving, “Sometimes driving is just being aware of what you are doing and where you are.  It’s all about saving lives and holding tax dollars down.”  He explained that when county employees drive safely, it saves tax dollars from being used in unexpected repairs, hospitalization or loss when someone is sued.

Training is given to employees in pairs, in 30 minute alternating sessions.  Courtney explained that one will drive while the other is observing and learning from the driver’s mistakes.  Then the employees will switch places.

There is also another simulator within the trailer for training county employees in driving semi-trucks.  TAC’s simulator has logged more than 100,000 miles traveling across the state and training drivers at no cost to the counties.  For more information on the driving simulator and other services TAC provides to counties, visit