This film presents an introduction to the Drivotrainer, a driver’s education simulator produced by the automobile insurer Aetna. The Drivotrainer dates as far back as 1951, when Aetna introduced the innovative system, which combined an automobile simulator with 16mm motion pictures and a scoring computer, to provide enhanced behind-the-wheel instruction in the classroom. Note: this film was originally presented in widescreen and will appear slightly distorted on Youtube.

In the opening scene young men and women sit holding the steering wheels of the Aetna Drivotrainer units with non-functional headlights and bumpers, making them look a bit like the front end of tractors or bumper cards(0:19). Students learn how to use the Aetna Drivotrainer System (0:23). Reels of the film projector turn while man stands next to them (0:30). Pilot in an Air Force plane (0:44). Man in a control room flipping switches for a flight simulator (0:47). United Airlines commercial airplane takes off (0:56). Airplane pilot simulator with men observing (1:00). US Navy submarine 568 (1:05). Submarine captains train in a simulation room (1:08). Astronaut trains in a simulation room (1:16). Spaceship takes off (1:22). Baseball player uses a baseball pitching machine to practice batting (1:31). Football players use blocking sleds (1:41). Men in suits sit around a table with a machine in it (1:51). Drivotrainer units being used by students at a military base (1:57). Man maneuvers a convertible car out of a parking spot (2:02). Man drives a convertible down a suburban street (2:12). Students train on Drivotrainer units while in a simulation room that has a large screen that displays filmed roadways (2:31). Machine scores the actions of students while they drive (2:55). Machine prints record of student’s responses (3:09). Male instructor sits in an Aetna Drivotrainer unit (3:36). Leather shoes on pedals (4:01). Man buckles his seat belt (4:06). Fuel gauge, generator and oil pressure gauge, ignition key (4:15). Instructor turns the key to the engine (4:26). Man releases the parking brake (4:49). Hands hold the steering wheel at 10 and 2 o’clock (5:12). Instructor turns the steering wheel of the Drivotrainer unit with the hand over hand technique (5:33). Man drives a convertible car down a suburban street (5:52). Instructor demonstrates how to signal for a right turn and gives a hand signal (6:03). The instructor demonstrates the left turn signal and holds his arm out (6:20). Instructor presses the horn (7:12). Instructor shows how to break by putting the ball of his foot on the brake pedal (7:29). Car drives through an American neighborhood (7:45). Man removes his foot from the break (8:03). Green car’s brake lights turn on (8:16). Foot on the accelerator pedal (8:45). Speedometer (9:04). Foot goes off of the accelerator and moves onto the floor (9:16). Instructor demonstrates how to use the manual shift lever (9:20). Driver pushes down on clutch (9:29). Hand pushes out button near the steering column (9:50). Buttons IN, R, D, and L for different gears and the instructor presses them (10:03). Driving instructor with the Drivotrainer units’ mirrors displayed behind him (10:58). Driver adjusts mirror (11:04). First-person view of a car backing into a parking lot (11:27). Bird’s-eye view of car backing into a parking lot (11:43). Animation demonstrating the mathematics of cars passing each other (12:00). Expert driver drives a convertible car on a black asphalt road signaling and turning at the proper times (12:11). Two men trying to hitch-hike on the side of the road (12:58). Driver stops at stop sign at an intersection (13:14). Driver’s actions recorded on a score sheet (14:00). Students in classroom using the Drivotrainer units (14:03). Students stick out their arms to signal (14:13). Man drives in parking lot and stretches his arm out to signal (14:33). Car pulls into parking space (14:42). Tractor crosses the street (14:49). Car windshield wipers (14:58). Instructor reads printed report (15:19). Score report (15:25). Instructor hands out record sheets (15:35). Instructor demonstrates technique on a chalkboard (16:15).

This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com