When I hit send on Issue 10, I was ready for a fight.
Twenty years of watching the simulator debate play out in law enforcement told me that staking a position — any position — would draw fire from both sides. My wife thought I'd been too balanced to provoke much of anything. She may have been right.
What came back surprised me.
Not because people disagreed — some did — but because the conversation was remarkably civil and remarkably informed. When the argument is framed around what simulators actually do well — building judgment and decision-making — it turns out there isn't much to fight about.
Three responses stood out. Combined, they represent over six decades of experience in law enforcement driver training. I'm going to let them speak.
Al Liebno — 40 Years in the EVOC World
Al opened Maryland's Driver Training Facility in the late 1990s and served as Executive Director of the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commissions.
Hugh, You have hit another home run! As you know I've been involved in EVOC for over 40 years and have been involved with Simulator Training since the late 1990's when I opened Maryland's Driver Training Facility. We had 4 Simulator stations. It did not take long for us to experience SAS. And I totally agree the instructor can have a HUGE impact on SAS. We also recognized that keeping the classroom cool, window shades lowered and room lights dimmed does help slightly. But gradual introduction to Simulator Scenarios was the largest impact on decreasing SAS. Your conclusion that current Driving Simulators do not teach vehicle handling/operation skills. Thus, I have always considered my Simulator Training as Judgement/Decision making and Observation building/development training exercises. The student has to get in the vehicle to develop driving/operating skills.
Al Liebno, Adjunct Instructor Carroll County Sheriff's Academy / Retired Lieutenant, MD State Police / Former Executive Director, MD Police & Correctional Training Commissions — Westminster, Maryland
Michael Griffin — The Technology Has Moved On
This response came from a LinkedIn exchange following Issue 10 — proof that the conversation is happening across more than one room.
I agree instructor delivery and exposure strategy matter and shouldn't be overlooked. That said, the technology itself has advanced significantly. Modern systems like Acron's PS8—using a motion seat synchronized with steering, throttle, and braking—align more closely with real-world motion. Because the vehicle, not the world, moves in reality, this approach is more intuitive for the brain. These are not 2006-era simulators. Today's platforms are built to reduce simulator sickness through: Better motion cueing and vehicle dynamics, 4K visuals and wider fields of view, Lower latency and tighter synchronization, Structured, progressive exposure. Research shows modern systems can reduce sickness by 50% or more. So while SAS isn't eliminated, today's platforms are less reliant on perfect instruction. Bottom line: Instructor technique still matters, Platform design has lowered baseline risk, The combination drives the best outcomes.
Michael Griffin, Account Manager — Akron Aviation
Michael McGregor — The Contrarian View
Michael McGregor has been in the law enforcement training world for decades and has never been shy about saying exactly what he thinks.
Hugh, Your article was Dead-On!!!! Well done!!! As you know, I do tend to speak my mind on driving issues. I do believe a FACT is information without emotion and an OPINION is information shaped by real-world experience. Simulators are games and nothing more. The simulator's computer operator is in complete control, not the driver. There are no real-world driving environmental / spatial risks or fears associated with a Sim drive.
Michael McGregor
Now It's Your Turn
Three perspectives. Six decades of combined experience. And still no consensus.
Which brings me to a simple poll question — what is your agency actually using?
How does your agency currently conduct driver training?
A Brief Wrap
The simulator debate isn't going away. But what this conversation has shown me is that the field is thinking about it seriously — and that the instructor remains the constant in every argument, on every side.
That's worth something.
More to come.
— Hugh
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Hugh Anderson EVOC Trainer | Author of Emergency Vehicle Operation Instruction: 5 Steps to Enhancing Your EVOC Training Grab the book on Amazon