2018 - Deborah Freund Paper Award from the Truck and Bus Safety Committee (ANB70) of the Transportation Research Board, National Academy of Sciences, for article Transfer of Training in Basic Control Skills from a Truck Simulator to a Real Truck.
2014 - CAMA Willis Award for Innovation - Eco-Drive Initiative, Waterloo, Ontario. Driving simulator-based eco-drive training program developed by Virage Simulation.
2014 - NAFA Fleet Excellence Award, Calgary, Alberta. Defensive driving and eco-drive training provided by mobile classrooms equipped with Virage Simulation driving simulators and training programs.
2011 - TSX Emerging Technology Award for innovative new products at the 26th CATA Alliance Innovation Award Gala
2010 - Alpha Awards for Excellence in simulator design and positive impact on driving safety given to Virage Simulation by the Chamber of commerce and industry of Saint-Laurent during its annual gala celebrating exceptional business accomplishments.
Publications
Chaumillon, R., Michaels, J., Nguyen-Tri, D., Watanabe, D. H., Hirsch, P., Bellavance, F., Giraudet, Guillaume, Bernardin, Delphine & Faubert, J. (2017) Driving simulator scenarios and measures to faithfully evaluate risky driving behavior: A comparative study of different driver age groups. PLoS ONE 12(10): e0185909. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0185909
Hirsch, P., Choukou, M-A., & Bellavance, F. (2017). Transfer of Training in Basic Control Skills from a Truck Simulator to a Real Truck. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board. Vol. 2637 pp. 67-73. May 2017. DOI: 10.3141/2637-08
Hirsch, P., & Bellavance, F. (2017). Transfer of Training of Driving Skills Learned on a Driving Simulator to On-Road Driving Behavior. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research. Vol. 2660, pp. 1-6. DOI:10.3141/2660-01
Stern, E., Akinwuntan, A. E., & Hirsch, P. (2017). Simulator Sickness. In S. Classen (Ed.), Driving simulation for assessment, intervention, and training: A guide for occupational therapy and health care professionals. American Occupational Therapy Association. Bethesda, MD.
Hirsch, P., & Rosen, T. (2017). Psychological Fidelty. In S. Classen (Ed.), Driving simulation for assessment, intervention, and training: A guide for occupational therapy and health care professionals. American Occupational Therapy Association. Bethesda, MD.
Reports
Hirsch, P., & Quimper, R. (2017). Alcool, distractions et fatigue au volant - Deuxième étude portant sur l'efficacité d'une intervention de CAA-Québec dans les écoles secondaires. Rapport d'évaluation - Fondation CAA-Québec.
Hirsch, P., & Bellavance, F. (2016). Pilot Project to Validate the Transfer of Training of Driving Skills Learned on a High Fidelity Driving Simulator to On-Road Driving. April 2016. CIRRELT-2016-15
Hirsch, P., & Quimper R. (2012). Alcool et autres distractions au volant. Étude portant sur l'efficacité d'une intervention de CAA-Québec dans les écoles secondaires. Rapport d'évaluation - Fondation CAA-Québec.
Messier, S., Hirsch, P., Quimper R., & Beaupérin, P. (2010). Projet pilote en matière d'écoconduite dans le secteur du transport par véhicules lourds (phase I). Analyse des programmes de formation existants portant sur l'écoconduite dans des milieux comparables à celui du Québec (livrable 1). l'Agence de l'efficacité énergétique du Québec - Direction des secteurs transport, industrie et innovation technologique.
Presentations
NMEDA Annual Conference and Expo – Advanced Driver Rehabiliation Workshop. Optimizing the Value of Driving Simulators in Rehabiliation Practice by Increasing Behavioral Validity. Daytona Beach, Fl. March 6, 2018.
Lecture. Best ways to use driving simulation in driver training and testing. Occupational Therapy Department, School of Health Professions, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University. April 6, 2017
Transportation Research Board (TRB). Poster Session - Transfer of Training in Basic Control Skills from a Truck Simulator to a Real Truck. Transportation Research Board (TRB). Washington, D.C. January, 2017
Transportation Research Board (TRB). Hybrid Session - Transfer of Training of Driving Skills Learned on a Driving Simulator to On-road Driving Behavior. Transportation Research Board (TRB). Washington, D.C. January, 2017
Driving School Association of the Americas (DSAA) Annual Conference. To get the right answers, ask the right questions: A key to training safer novice drivers. Boca Raton, Florida. November 10, 2016.
ADED Conference Mini-Seminar. A New Tool for Assessing Driver Behaviors at Intersections. Columbus, Ohio. August 16, 2016.
25th Canadian Road Safety Professionals Conference. Training Novice Learners on Driving Simulators – Process and Outcomes. Halifax, Nova Scotia. June 8, 2016.
The 28th Annual Jacques Cartier Center Dialogues. Formation des enseignants et leurs perceptions par rapport à l'utilisation du simulateur de conduite dans la formation des nouveaux conducteurs. Brussels, Belgium. November 25-26, 2015
International Conference on Road Injury, Trauma and Rehabilitation. Keynote Speaker. Driving Simulation-based Training Scenarios for Diverse Driver Populations. Heraklion, Crete. October 22-23, 2015.
ADED Annual Conference. Simulator Workshop: Optimal Driving Simulation - Improving Emotional Fidelity and Reporting. Louisville, Kentucky. August 31, 2015.
8th International Driving Symposium on Human Factors in Driver Assessment. Towards the Validation of a Driving Simulator-Based Hazard Response Test for Novice Drivers. Salt Lake City, Utah. June 22-25, 2015
Driving School Association of the Americas (DSAA) Annual Conference. Part I. Identifying High-risk Drivers Before They Crash - Part II. Testing Hazard Responses of Adolescent Novice Drivers with a Driving Simulator. Las Vegas, Nevada. November 7, 2014.
Transportation Research Board (TRB). Poster Session - Novice learner driver perceptions of the efficiency of driving simulator-based training in Quebec. Transportation Research Board (TRB). Washington, D.C. January, 2014
HEC Webinar. The Driver Training Benefits of Simulator Adaptation Syndrome. Facilitating Adaptation to Driving Simulators. Montréal, Québec. November 15, 2013
Driving School Association of the Americas Annual Conference. Driving Simulation and the Driver Competency Assessment. New Orleans, Louisiana. November 6-9, 2013.
ADED Conference Mini-Seminar. The Driving Simulator-based Multidimensional Driver Assessment: A Reliable Tool. Columbus, Ohio. August 20, 2013.
23nd Canadian Multidisciplinary Road Safety Conference. Novice learner driver perceptions of the efficiency of driving simulator-based training in Quebec. Montreal, Quebec. May 26-29, 2013.
93rd Annual AOTA Conference & Expo. Poster Session - Complementing Driver Assessments & Remediation with Simulators. San Diego, California. April 25-28, 2013.
56th Annual Meeting Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.
From lab to real life: A case study in the deployment of advanced driving simulators. Boston, Massachusetts. October 22–26, 2012.
22nd Canadian Multidisciplinary Road Safety Conference. A Prototype Driving Simulator-Based Hazard Response Test. Banff, Alberta. June 10-13, 2012.
MT3 Conference. The Multidimensional Driver Assessment: A Reliable Platform for Effective Translational Research. Orlando, Florida. May 10, 2012.
79e Congres de l'Association francophone pour le savoir (Acfas). Prototype de test de perception des risques pour les nouveaux conducteurs sur simulateur de conduite. Sherbrooke, Quebec. 13 mai 2011.
21st Canadian Multidisciplinary Road Safety Conference. An Evaluation of Truck Simulator-Based Training on the Acquisition of Gear-Shifting Skills. Halifax, Nova Scotia. May 8-11, 2011.
Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Workshop. Atelier Enviro-flottes: outils et conseils pour réduire les émissions. Pointe-Claire, Quebec. Le 23 février, 2011.
Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Workshop. Driving Simulator-based Eco-drive Training. Victoria, B.C. February 8th, 2011.
Transportation Research Board (TRB). Committee on Operator Education and Regulation, ANB 30. Applications of Driving Simulators to Driver Training and Testing. Transportation Research Board (TRB). Washington, D.C. January 25, 2011.
Transportation Research Board (TRB). Human Factors Workshop 144E. A Prototype Driving Simulator-Based Hazard Perception Test. Transportation Research Board (TRB). Washington, D.C. January 23, 2011.
Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Workshop. Driving Simulator-based Ecodrive Training. London, Ontario. November 16, 2010.
Driving School Association of the Americas (DSAA) 2010. Driving Simulation: An Update on its Role in Driver Education. Austin, Texas. November 4, 2010.
Ivirtivik Centre. Driver Licensing in Nunavik. Montréal, Québec. October 14th, 2010.
McGill Engineering CIVE-546. Seminar on Driving Simulator-Based Research. Montreal. September, 2010.
APMA-AUTO21 Annual Conference & Exhibition. Driving simulator-based testing and evaluation. Windsor, Ontario. June 8th, 2010.
Conférence annuelle du CIRRELT. Apprentissages et évaluation des habilités du conduites sur simulateur Québec City. April 26, 2010.
45th Conference of the Association québécoise du transport et des routes (AQTR). Driving simulator use Present and Future. Québec City. March 29, 2010.
APMA-AUTO21 Annual Conference & Exhibition. Driving simulator-based testing – How can we identify high-risk drivers before they crash? Hamilton, Ontario. May 26th 2009.
Annual Conference & Workshop. Road Safety Educators' Association – 2007. Evaluation of the Efficiency of Driving Simulator Training for Novice Drivers. Montreal. September, 2007.
Workshop. Emergency Driver Training and Driver Simulators. Simularutbilding i Uddevalla, Sweden. May 24/25, 2007.
42nd Conference of the Association québécoise du transport et des routes (AQTR). The Psychology of Adolescent Drivers. Montréal. April 2, 2007.
Annual Conference & Workshop. Road Safety Educators' Association - 2006. Driving Simulation: How it can help improve road safety. Arnprior, Ontario. September 21st and 22nd, 2006.
Ateliers sur le maintien de l'autonomie dans les transport chez les ainés: Conduire ou outiliser des moyens alternatifs de transport ? Atelier 1. L'apport de la simulation pour une conduire automobile sécuritaire - Should we measure beliefs about crash prevention when we measure driving behaviors? Institute de réadaptation de Montréal, September 28th, 2006.