Paducah Area Transit System

Paducah Area Transit System’s Mobile Driver Training Simulator is a proven way to reduce accidents for your school district, transit, city or county government or your company. The state of the art Simulator is self-contained on an 18-wheeler that comes to you, no matter where you are! Using the Simulator helps lower insurance costs, reduce insurance claims, reduce accidents, reduce injuries and make for safer roads for all of us. All PATS drivers are required to undergo Simulator Training at least once a year. If they're involved in an accident, they're required to go back into the Simulator for additional training. In our first full year of Simulator training, PATS drivers had a 64% reduction in preventable accidents, and a 44% decrease in overall accidents.

When we're not training our own drivers, we're available to travel, and train others, including transit drivers, commercial drivers, emergency responders and public works drivers. The unit is entirely self-contained, comes with an instructor and can travel almost anywhere in the US. The cost of PATS Simulator training is reimbursable with RTAP funds, and other defensive driver training grants. Many insurance companies also cover the cost of PATS Simulator Training for their insured drivers.

Inside the unit are three seperate simulators, which through the software can mimic a variety of vehicles. The full sized bus simulator can be anything from a 30 foot Gillig, to a 60 foot articulated bus. It can also be a school bus, for training school bus drivers. The bus simulator is also used to train commercial drivers of all types of large vehicles.

The paratransit simulator can be used to train rural transit drivers and ambulance drivers, but can also mimic a pickup truck, Crown Victoria or Chevy Malibu.

The Crown Victoria Police Interceptor is used to train law enforcement mostly, but can also mimic a paratransit, pickup truck or Chevy Malibu.

Since 2006, almost 4,000 drivers have completed training in PATS Mobile Driving Simulator, with specialized curricula for transit drivers, law enforcement officers, public works drivers and commercial drivers.

The simulator works by letting drivers experience real life scenarios and allowing them to practice safe driving techniques to avoid accidents in the kinds of vehicles they normally drive. We can also custom design curriculum and scenarios in case your drivers need to work on a specific problem area.

Here's what our clients have to say:

"Your staff was great and it was a valuable, enjoyable experience. We are planning to use it again this fall!" Donna Tooley, Community Action of Southern Kentucky

"I had just finished the Simulator training and was responding to call about an attempted stabbing. I was moving through an intersection, with lights and siren on, and I was thinking about what we learned about scanning intersections as I started moving around a woman driving another car. She tried to turn into me and because of what I learned, I knew what to watch for and I was able to avoid her. There's no doubt in my mind, the techniques I learned that morning helped me avoid an accident that afternoon"
Lt. Rick Scarborough, Calloway County Sheriff's Dept., Murray, KY

"Looking back, I’m not quite sure what I expected, but the actual training experience and the professionalism of the instructors, not to mention the feedback from the employees, went way beyond expectations....very impressed with the training material and the simulator experience itself. This program is well worth the investment and the benefits, I hope, will stay with my drivers for months to come." David Meyer, Republic Parking, Des Moines, IA

"Having the simulator come to our facility during our driver safety meeting was a great experience. The customized modules provided realistic scenarios which challenged the drivers, and gave them instant feedback on their performance. The trainer was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic, and his stories captured the attention of the drivers. I would recommend the simulator training to anyone who has professional drivers on the road. " Scott Braden, Safety Director, Nall's Specialized Hauling, Inc., Elizabethtown, KY

"RTEC has utilized the Simulator program several times since its introduction. It was an important step in the continuing education of our Drivers. Our business is to transport the most precious cargo, human beings. So we take that responsibility seriously. The Simulator training provided our Drivers an opportunity to practice and hone their skills in a safe environment under the tutelage of instructors who have experience and a vested interest in the transportation industry. Thanks PATS!"
Dale Shelton, Rural Transit Enterprises Coordinated Training Coordinator

"The training was truly a good experience for our drivers. Everybody had positive feedback about it and said the mirror information was extremely valuable. I am excited about future modules."
Alonda Massey, Transit General Manager, Western Kentucky University

"We had ten officers complete the Basic Operator’s Course. I personally attended the training and learned several basic principles to help me in everyday driving. I have heard other officers make similar comments. The overall consensus is that the training was invaluable and has helped prepare our department for daily operation of vehicles…a task that our officers carry-on 24 hours a day. Thanks to you and the Driver Training people for providing this training."
Major Jody Cash, Murray State Police, Murray, KY

"We were impressed with simulator training and instruction. Glad to report that since the training we have had no accidents. I know it hasn't been all that long but before the training there seemed to be an event every week or two. Very good instruction and fun too. "
Jimmy Campbell, Judge Executive, Lyon County, KY