And it’s the brainchild of long term unemployed Nambucca Heads man, Quentin Miles.

It’s a working computer simulation of driving on country roads - and is available for use at the Nambucca Valley Youth Services Centre in Ridge St.

While there are plenty of computer-based road simulators in Europe and the States, Mr Miles said there was a ‘desperate need’ for one in Australia that reflected local driving conditions, including driving on the left hand side of the road.

A self-confessed fan of driving games, Mr Miles hatched the plan to create a simulator in September.

Since then, and though he’s been out of work for the best part of 10 years, he’s been anything but idle.

“I’ve been working 12 to 16 hour days,” he told The Guardian, “there’s just so much programming to do.”

And the simulator is still a work in progress.

While it is already operational, and includes feedback to users when they are involved in a collision. Mr Miles is keen to add extra dimensions, such as incorporating a driver test to the program and ‘having a kangaroo jump out onto the road

unexpectedly’.

The project has already won a fan base.

On Friday, Enterprise and Training Company (ETC) director Brian Keen was on hand to pass over $5000 to further develop the simulator.

Youth Services Centre chairperson Chris Hewgill was also there, and is excited about taking the concept to local schools and beyond.

One obvious question: how can a man, aged just 46, with the ‘smarts’ to develop a complex computer simulation, struggle to find work?

Mr Miles: “It’s just a fact that I’ve had difficulty

finding work, but there are plenty of people out there with college and university degrees who can’t even get a start with Maccas.”

The Youth Driver Simulator is being pitched as an

inclusive learning tool - and will be particularly

valuable to disadvantaged youth who can’t afford professional lessons, and have limited access to a car.

“It simulates a reasonably realistic representation of the driving experience in a rural setting, including rules, road conditions, other drivers and driving information,” Mr Miles said.

“The program is still in its infancy, but young drivers are able to access it now by making an appointment at the youth centre (ph 6568-7777) to learn basic skills before venturing onto the road.

“It’s an ideal training program for drivers needing to gain confidence and knowledge before driving and tests.”