Tepic, Nayarit — To improve road safety and standardize driver evaluation, Nayarit's state license office consolidated a driving simulator as part of the practical exam for obtaining a driver's license.
Tepic, Nayarit — In an effort to improve road safety, standardize driver evaluation, and give citizens a fairer, more modern process, the State of Nayarit's License Office consolidated, several years ago, the use of a driving simulator as part of the practical exam for obtaining a driver's license.
The system has transformed license issuance by making it possible to evaluate applicants' real driving skills more objectively, safely, and efficiently — without exposing the public or the applicants themselves to risk on public roads.
Technology at the service of citizens
The driving simulator has been a key tool in the transition to a more transparent, standardized evaluation model. The system can:
🚗 Simulate real urban and highway traffic conditions 🌧️ Replicate complex weather: rain, fog, low visibility 🚦 Evaluate responses to traffic lights, pedestrians, and road signs ⚠️ Detect technical errors such as poor brake use, improper acceleration, or abrupt maneuvers
Evaluators watch performance in real time and issue impartial results, removing subjective factors from the evaluation and creating a fairer, more professional experience for citizens.
The simulator has let us standardize evaluation criteria and make the process safer. Citizens have received it very well, especially those who value a risk-free test that is clear and well explained.
Gaby MarrujoCoordinator, Tepic License Office
I was nervous at first, but the simulator was very clear. I felt safer practicing without being in traffic. I liked that everything was recorded and I could see where I made mistakes.
Carlos ÁvilaCitizen evaluated on the simulatorA model built around citizens
The system now operates permanently at the state office and has made it possible to: ✅ Improve the quality of the license issuance process ✅ Guarantee equal conditions in every evaluation ✅ Strengthen road-safety education from the very first interaction ✅ Help reduce accidents caused by irresponsible license issuance
The model has been recognized as one of the most advanced at the state level in the region, and its expansion to other municipalities is already under consideration.
By putting a driving simulator at the heart of its license process, the Government of Nayarit has shown that modernizing is not just digitizing — it is putting technology at the service of citizens and public safety. An efficient, fair, and replicable model.
