Background Traditional driver education, often reliant on on-road training, faces limitations in terms of safety, scalability, and replicating the varied conditions of real-world driving. Simulators emerge as a promising alternative, offering a controlled, repeatable, and safe environment for driver training and evaluation.

Objective The primary goal of this study is to develop a desktop-based simulator exhibiting the realistic Indian driving scenarios. The study also seeks to understand user experiences, identify strengths and weaknesses, and gauge the simulator’s impact on learning outcomes and driving performance improvement.

Methods Simulator is developed with the help of software such as Unity3D, SUMO comprising of different driving modules and dynamic scoring system. Moreover, mixed- method study involved 100 participants, ranging from a diverse group of users, including novice and experienced drivers, driving instructors, and traffic safety experts. Participants underwent simulated driving sessions followed by questionnaires to capture their perceptions.

Results and Conclusions The analysis reveals positive user experiences, highlighting the simulator’s realistic scenarios, user friendly interface, and the relevance of the training modules to real-world driving. The simulator scored high on realism, with more than 80% of participants reporting simulator-based training to be useful for learning and improving driving skills. The study provides valuable insights into the effectiveness of the desktop-based driving simulator as a training and testing tool. This study highlights the potential of such simulators to revolutionize traditional driver training methodologies, paving the way for a safer and more skilled generation of drivers.