SC State Opens VR Lab to Train Safer Commercial Drivers
- South Carolina State University opened a new simulation facility to advance training and research in transportation safety.
- Funded by a $1.98 million federal grant, the lab uses virtual reality to prepare drivers for real-world roadway risks.
South Carolina State University has opened the SMART Virtual Reality Lab, a transportation training facility located in the Engineering and Computer Science Complex on its Orangeburg campus. According to the university’s online publication Bulldog News, the lab was created by the Institute of Business, Environment, Communications, and Transportation with $1.98 million in support from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The state-of-the-art facility combines hands-on training for commercial drivers with research focused on how they respond to distractions, fatigue, and other safety risks.
Drivers train using one of three full-size simulators powered by virtual reality to practice handling 10 or more scenarios like traffic congestion, fatigue, and aggressive driving. The immersive system allows users to navigate realistic scenarios in a controlled setting. The lab also includes 15 workstations for analyzing safety data as well as a portable unit that will deliver training to schools and communities throughout the state.
The simulators track how drivers respond to challenging conditions by collecting physiological data such as heart rate. This helps researchers study reactions to fatigue, distractions, and other safety risks on the road. Alongside issuing training certificates, the lab will support ongoing research, host professional workshops, and expand outreach to bring more drivers through the program across South Carolina.
🌀 Tom’s Take:
A university-backed VR lab is now a statewide driver safety tool that blends simulation, certification, and research to reduce roadway risk.
Source: SC State University
