Snowplow Simulator Prepares Drivers

WASHINGTON, DC (WUSA) - Winter road crews got a first-hand taste this week of what lies ahead when a snowstorm hits.

The 200 workers are training with a snowplow simulator leased by the Department of Public Works. The machine, which resembles a race-car video game in appearance, is designed to simulate what it feels like to be driving in ice, snow and 200 mph winds.

"It helps with safety. It also helps with employee retention," said David Spjut, the director of training for MPRI, which is the company that invented the simulator.

Although the simulator is used across the country for truck-drivers and other city road crews, the one used this week is designed with DC streets in mind.

"We've adjusted the scenario specifically to this one a little bit and run some tighter situations where they need to run some barricades and very low visibility situations. We tried to create a little more challenging situation specific to the needs of the DC area," said Spjut.

The last major snowstorm in the District was five years ago. So, many of the city's drivers have not had any experience with extreme winter weather conditions.

"If you do anything once a year, you're not going to be very good at it," said William Howland, director of the Department of Public Works. "So this gives our workers a little more practical experience. And they love it. Many of them have not really driven a huge truck in the snow so many of them are appreciating the opportunity."

Although the city is leasing the simulator from MPRI this year, Howland said officials will most likely purchase one for next year. The machine costs somewhere around $200,000.