Egis offers VR training for French highway patrols

A new scheme in France aims to give highway police a first-hand view of what to expect in high speed incidents – without putting anyone at risk.

7319 Egis has launched the training module for motorway patrollers using a virtual reality (VR) headset and handheld controls. In conjunction with French start-up Immersive Factory it offers training on motorway safety and callout procedures as part of Egis’ contract to operate the A63 motorway between the villages of Salles and St. Geours-de-Maremne.

Egis says the VR headset provides a realistic immersive environment where the traffic noise, vehicle speed and weather events have been reproduced. Behind the wheel of a virtual vehicle, the patroller is faced with a random incident such as a broken-down vehicle or a serious accident causing injuries or involving hazardous substances.

The training simulates a real-life situation in which the patroller only has a few seconds to decide where to park the vehicle and what warning signs to use, the company adds.

Patrollers working on the A63 will receive a certificate after completing the course while more experienced team members will participate in the training module twice a year to keep their knowledge up to date. Egis is aiming to train around 34 patrollers and six team leaders by December.

The training module is available via the Immersive %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 link-external website false https://immersivefactory.com/ false false%>.

Egis was chosen to operate A63 by concession company Atlandes.