The Development and Evaluation of a High Fidelity Simulator Training Program for Snowplow Operators

A customized training program incorporating high-fidelity simulation was developed for snowplow operators in a collaborative research project with the Utah Department of Transportation, the University of Utah, and General Electric Driver Development. Ratings of user acceptance of the training were very high, with drivers of all levels of experience indicating that the training helped them prepare for several issues critical to the safe and efficient operation of a snowplow. In the 6-month period following training, the odds of getting in an accident were lower for the group of drivers who received training compared with a matched control group who did not receive training and the estimated cost associated with each accident was also lower for the drivers who received training. In addition, the data indicate that fuel efficiency was greater for the trained drivers than for the control group.