Transportation Ministry Gets JAD10.8 Million Test Driving Simulators

Press Release, December 9, 2021

Min. Robert Montague

Minister of Transport & Mining, Hon. Robert Montague has lauded the Transport Authority’s donation of a $10.8M Test Driving Simulators to the Island Traffic Authority, as a key strategy to infuse the use of technology into driver testing and improve road safety efforts.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony for the donation of the first of two simulators at the Swallowfield Depot in Kingston recently (December 8, 2021), Montague says the donation of the equipment, represents the beginning of the transformation of driver testing and administration of the road code locally. Montague added that the use of the simulator coupled with the electronic database for the road code exams for the provisional driver’s licence, now allow for more effective testing of drivers. Prior to doing the road test, learner drivers will use the test driving simulator, which provides a myriad of scenarios, to assess the drivers’ readiness to be tested on the nation’s roadway. Additional benefits to be derived from the use of the test driving simulator include the ability to provide feedback to learner drivers on the specific weaknesses detected during the sessions and improve the safety for the examiners who administer the tests. 

 Meanwhile, Managing Director of the Transport Authority Mr. Willard Hylton reiterated the Authority’s commitment to fostering a more competent caliber of drivers on the roads with the donation of the simulator. Hylton says through its Corporate Social Responsibility programme, the Authority continues to leverage strategic partnerships such as the one with Island Traffic Authority to retrain and recertify Public Passenger Vehicle (PPV) drivers. Other such partnerships include the new PPV Driver Training programme, developed by EduFocal and sponsored by BCIC, which is a web based application designed using gamification. Training using this web based application will begin in January 2022.