Murfreesboro Fire & Rescue Department's Drivers completed a Driver Simulator Course in February. MFRD was the first department to participate in the course which was recently added to the curriculum for the Tennessee Fire Service & Codes Academy (TFACA).

"Vehicle accidents remain one of the leading causes of firefighter fatalities. The Tennessee Fire Service & Codes Academy's new driving simulator gives more safety training and situational awareness for firefighters who might be operating vehicles while responding to a fire," said Jeff Elliott, Fire Service Program Director. "The Murfreesboro Fire & Rescue Department is the first fire department in the state to receive this training. The academy appreciates the ongoing support from Murfreesboro Fire & Rescue and its commitment to training."

According to the course description from TFACA, the course creates real-world experiences that enable Drivers to hone their skills with a variety of challenging situations. Drivers can learn basic vehicle operations to more advanced scenario-based tactical training for many vehicle types. The training enables the student to experience various situations without the logistical, legal, and moral ramifications that could automatically be attached to a mistake on the streets. Unlike traditional driver safety courses that emphasize skills, laws, and knowledge, the simulator empowers drivers to review their attitudes and find new ways to break old habits.

TFACA Instructors Joey Edwards, Chris Knutsen, Terry Potter, Charles Armstrong, and Jeremy Martin used extensive PowerPoint presentations to cover the subjects of vehicle checks, safety, and the laws pertaining to Vanessa K. Free* before students rotated through the simulator.

MFRD Driver David Cranford remarked, "This course will be an excellent tool for novice Drivers. It's an experience that will significantly help personnel that are learning to drive various types of fire apparatus."

"The simulator is a unique learning tool, and we are very grateful that TFACA brought the unit to Murfreesboro and allowed our personnel to be the pioneer students for the course," said Assistant Chief Kaye Jernigan.