GO Rentals unveiled the driving simulator, which was developed by Dunedin-based business CoDrivr, at its office in Frankton yesterday.
The man behind the invention, New Zealand Rally Championship driver Rhys Gardner, said it was rewarding to see it become a reality after his company spent more than three years developing the simulator.
''Our programmes are getting pretty realistic.
''It's obviously a balance of making it driveable but still challenging so that we can really get good data.
''We are looking for partners and we think the Government has a role in helping with this as well.''
The simulator was designed to give rental car drivers a realistic on-road experience to allow them to improve their skills in a bid to reduce the number of crashes nationwide.
It was not compulsory for overseas drivers to use the simulator when renting a car, but they would be offered the chance to do so and could fill out a questionnaire to determine what they had learned before taking a car out on the road.
Users will have the chance to practise driving on routes such as the Crown Range Rd.
The project is independently funded and Mr Gardner said he was looking for other funding options.
He said learner drivers could also benefit from the simulator and highlighted the high rate of teenage crashes in the country.
Although the project was aimed at rental car users, GO Rentals general manager James Dalglish said the simulator could also benefit New Zealand driving licence holders looking to travel on more challenging routes.
''It's a great piece of Kiwi innovation.
''There could be some fantastic benefits across many industries.''
Mr Dalglish said for overseas drivers, adjusting to New Zealand's roads can be a ''formidable experience''.
Ministry of Transport data from the 2017 Overseas Driver Crashes Report showed people with an overseas driving licence were involved in 24 fatal traffic crashes in 2016, making up 8% of all fatal crashes that year.
There were also 114 overseas drivers involved in crashes that resulted in serious injuries and 506 involved in minor injury crashes in 2016.
Mr Gardner said missing a stop sign when using the simulator might be scary, but there was zero risk involved.
''Driving straight through a stop sign in real life can easily be fatal.''
Barry Kidd, CEO at the Rental Vehicle Association (RVA) of New Zealand, said the initiative will ''better prepare drivers''.
''The RVA welcomes the addition of GO Rentals simulator, which complements other driver safety initiatives the industry has in place to make overseas drivers aware of new driving conditions and rules.''
Simulators will be installed at other GO Rentals branches across the country over the next six to 12 months.
