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| Bus drivers to train in virtual London Trainee bus drivers will soon be able to take a virtual journey through the streets of Firsdon, a specially created London suburb with its own tube station, bus station and bus depot. The computerised suburb, complete with its own unpredictable pedestrians, cyclists and traffic, features on the UK's first fully realistic bus simulator to be launched on 22nd November at Willesden Junction depot. The simulator is jointly funded by Transport for London and bus operator First, and has been specially adapted for London's buses, right down to the look and feel of the full-size cab. Firsdon's layout is based on generic London streets, while its bus depot is a virtual replica of the one at Westbourne park and its bus station is a computerised version of Walthamstow station. The simulator provides detailed, co-ordinated graphics through the windscreen and rear-view mirrors to give the look and feel of a real bus journey. Single, double-decker and articulated buses can all be simulated to run in the virtual world. Training leaders can set up scenarios replicating some of the worst problems a London bus driver might encounter, from heavy traffic to terrible weather. A separate control console allows the instructor to interact with the trainee by changing traffic signals, opening car doors or controlling a virtual pedestrian, taxi or cyclist. Trainees in the cab feel the wheel judder if they run into the kerb and can sense the difference in the way the bus handles when the weather makes the road conditions slippery. The simulator will not replace real life driver training out on the road, but it will support and enhance it. Safety studies show that simulators can decrease preventable accidents by as much as 43%. If the trial is a success, TfL plans to encourage other bus operators across London to use simulators as part of their training programmes. write your comments about the article :: © 2005 Game News :: home page |