We love racing sims because it gives us the thrill of being on the road while keeping things enjoyable. We wish for lessons to be this fun, but can racing sim teach you how to drive? What if we told you they could?
That’s right! Racing sims can teach driving and have been used by people as a tool used for practice before taking their driving tests. Some of you might be wondering what a racing sim is and how it can champion the traditional learning method.
So, this blog post will first introduce racing sim and explain its dynamics. It will then address the main topic and explore the several other benefits of racing sim you can enjoy. So, let’s get started!
What Is a Racing Sim?
Racing sim or sim racing is short for racing simulation and refers to the immersive gaming software that emulates racing as accurately as possible. Sim racing is a holistic experience, and you will need to get the full gear to make it work. A typical racing sim gear includes:
- Simulator Chassis
- Seats
- Steering Wheels
- Sim Racing PCs
- Pedals
- Gears and Hand Brakes
- Headsets
- Tactile Transducers and shakers
- Gauges for Speed, Fuel, etc.
These are the core components of sim racing equipment. However, you can also purchase upgrades to take things up a notch.
What Aspects of Driving Does Racing Sim Emulate?
The extensive list of gear components may have given you an idea about the experience racing simulation try to create. In a nutshell, they try to recreate the complete driving experience.
The Physical Experience
The simulator chassis is expertly designed and connected to tactile transducers and shakers. The monitor fits into the chassis, allowing users can see the visual, and everything is connected to the seat.
Hence, if your virtual car is the game driver over a rocky road, the shakers and chassis will emulate the physical experience, so you can have the experience a driver would.
Auditory Experience
You’ll need high-quality headsets for an authentic experience because they are meant to replicate the typical sound you’ll hear while driving. You can choose between open and closed caw windows through the software, and it will adjust the sound you hear accordingly.
Controls
Having control of the clutch, brake, and gear is instrumental when driving because that’s the only way you’ll know how a real car reacts. That’s why some sim racing equipment models have pedals for players to maximize their control over what happens.
The steering wheel is also critical since it helps the user learn how to smoothly maneuver the car while driving, parking, racing, etc.
Comparing Racing Sim to Driving Lessons
We have explained what sim racing or driving simulations involve, so it’s time to move on to the comparison. Can racing sims teach you how to drive, or will you have to stick to traditional lessons for that?
1. Car Control
The first part of driving lessons involves knowing the car and its controls. Your instructor will ask you to familiarize yourself with the steering wheel response, try clutch (if you’re learning on manual) and brake control, and get a feel of the experience.
The same experience is possible in driving simulations as long as you have the necessary equipment. You can attach pedals to the chassis to experience clutch control dynamics and handle the wheel to test how well you can maneuver the car.
The shakers will ensure you get to feel your errors as authentically as possible, so you’ll get to realize your mistakes and work around them.
2. Driving Through Traffic
The best part about sim racing is that the software has several scenarios for you. You can prepare a regular traffic setting once you get accustomed to the initial controls. The traffic simulation is programmed to use real-life driving responses. So, you can be assured that the responses will be similar to the real deal.
3. Parking Practice
Parking practice is one of the most important parts of driving lessons, and for a good reason. Poor parking skills are an inconvenience to others, and you can severely damage your car.
The good thing about racing sim is that it will provide accurate scenarios to help you practice your parking skills without putting someone else’s car at risk. Most instructors will team you with parallel parking, angle parking, perpendicular parking with other cars present for reference.
They have hand brake control, but there is always a risk your initial lessons will incur damage. The racing sim will still help you perfect the maneuvers without the added stress of paying for someone’s car repairs.
4. Stress Levels
Learning how to drive with sim racing is understandably less stressful than the real deal because you know the experience is virtual at the end of the day. However, we would argue that that is both good and bad.
The added stress of real-life driving lessons is a precautionary measure and forces you to be more careful during the learning phase. This lesson helps make you a better driver because your brain is wired to take extra precautions.
On the other hand, sim racing is less stressful and far more enjoyable. The problem is that knowing it is a virtual environment relaxes a person, and they are more likely to take riskier approaches. While that attitude doesn’t result in damages in the virtual world, it can cause problems during real driving.
5. 360 Degree Vision
One of the only absolute drawbacks of sim racing is that it cannot recreate the 360-degree vision and experience of real-life driving. Considering driving requires absolute awareness of surroundings, this is a major drawback.
However, that still doesn’t negate the overall similarity between the two experiences. Therefore, it would be safe to say that a racing sim or driving simulation can teach people how to drive.
Are There Training Centers Using Racing Sim to Teach?
Yes! The avenue isn’t as deeply researched, so there aren’t a lot of businesses offering this service. However, a few options like Maxwell Driving and All Florida Safety Institute give you the option to learn through simulation.
What Other Driving Perks Does Racing Sim Give?
Learning to drive with sim racing is already amazing, but that’s not the only perk of this technological innovation. Below are ways you can further explore this technology.
1. Immersive Gaming Experience
Racing simulators are the best equipment for immersive gaming experiences. They allow you to feel every sensation, making the experience more impressive.
2. Improves Driving Skills
Several drivers have used sim racing to improve their driving skills. Several drivers learned how to drive through traditional lessons, but driving simulators have helped them improve their maneuvering and responses to increase their skill level.
Final Thoughts
To sum up, the answer to the question, “Can racing sims teach you how to drive?’ is a resounding ‘Yes!’ You can happily enroll yourself in simulator lessons to get used to driving. Enjoy your time learning before you take the test and shift to the real thing. Best of luck!
