Currently regulation allows simulators to be used to meet the minimum topic requirements for the Driver Training/Awareness Perishable Skill. While the Law Enforcement Driving Simulators (LEDS) do provide students with decision-making training related to operating a police vehicle, they do not allow them to demonstrate proficiency in vehicle operations or meet all minimum topics of the PSP requirement. In addition, the LEDS have become obsolete and are cost prohibitive to replace.
While LEDS allow for opportunities for judgment and decision-making, they are not true behind the wheel exercises. They also do not allow students to practice backing and parking in the manner that they would in an actual vehicle. While many peace officers do operate a vehicle during their shifts, this is not the case for every peace officer required to complete PSP training. Moving away from the LEDS to using an actual vehicle allows for more time engaging in behind the wheel training, focused on specific skills related to operating a police vehicle including, vehicle dynamics, defensive driving, intersection exercises, backing/parking, and judgment and decision-making. Each of these are minimum training topic requirements for the Driver Training/Awareness PSP.
In 2009, California POST invested over $11 million in Law Enforcement Driving Simulators (LEDS). They were distributed to the statewide Regional Skills Training Centers (RSTC) during 2010-2011 and have served to offer critical, continuing professional driver training to tens of thousands of law enforcement personnel over the past decade. However, these simulators had an anticipated eight-year life span due to the degradation of hardware and software capabilities resulting from constant use, as well as mechanical wear-and-tear of the cockpit area. POST previously exercised options to extend the service/warranty agreement by several years, but most LEDS have now far exceeded their life span and respective service/warranty agreement, making them obsolete. It would be imprudent to continue using obsolete equipment to train peace officers.
POST staff recognize that a new Continuing Professional Training (CPT) cycle has already begun, therefore there will be a transition period of three months to allow presenters to adjust their course offerings as needed. For the first half of the 2021-2022 CPT cycle, until this change takes effect, personnel will still be allowed to complete the Driver Training/Awareness Perishable Skills course using a LEDS. However, all minimum topics shall be met as specified for Driver Training/Awareness. |