Ergological Perspectives for the Use of Driving Simulators

Despite controversial Brazilian legislation on simulation-based driver training, it is used only rarely. Furthermore, there is no requirement to use it in professional road driver training. According to the international literature, in which the subject has been studied for a much longer period, there is still insuffi cient evidence to justify the widespread use of simulators to train professional drivers. However, this literature contains no critical analysis of the effects of the theoretical and methodological foundations utilised in this training. To contribute to this debate, we review the literature on simulation-based training for professional drivers, critically analysing it through the contributions of Ergology and French Professional Didactics. We note some problems with the different training programmes examined: (a) no recognition of the actual activity being simulated or the socially constructed knowledge that is necessary to perform it; (b) an insuffi cient conception of the skills and knowledge mobilised in work situations; and (c) a failure to understand a professional activity. We present alternative methods of using simulation-based training for professional drivers: collective training mediated by simulation and based on the knowledge, norms, and values shared by drivers.