The simulator was originally commissioned by the Transport Accident Commission of Victoria and the Monash University Accident Research Centre. A high technology simulator such as Real Drive is one of the most promising tools for teaching drivers new skills and strategies. The driver sits in a real car in front of a large 180 degree screen displaying the road scene. The views through the windshield and the rear view mirror show other cars, pedestrians, landmarks, cross streets, and buildings. A road motion platform is mounted underneath the Real Drive car and simulates irregularities in the road surface.
Drivers can feel the car cross railroad tracks, speed bumps, and other rough surfaces.
An instructor is able to vary road conditions, such as fog, wet roads, and pedestrians to make driving easier or more difficult. Real Drive exposes drivers to the kinds of events that may occur infrequently in the real world but carry disastrous consequences. Drivers can be safely exposed to such conditions repeatedly with Real Drive, thereby gaining years of experience in a few hours.