London

The UK’s first realistic Bus Driving Simulator was launched in November 2005 by Peter Hendy, Commissioner of Transport for London, and Nicola Shaw, Managing Director of UK Bus, First Group.

Jointly funded by Transport for London and First London, partners on this project, it is designed to replicate the experience of driving a bus in a safe controlled environment. Trainee bus drivers take a virtual journey through the streets of ‘Firsdon’, a specially created London suburb with its own tube stations, bus station and depot.

Leading manufacturers, Volvo and Wrightbus, have supplied actual vehicle parts so that the inside of the simulator replicates a bus cab, complete with brakes, signals, lights, engine noises and a steering wheel. The Simulator’s manufacturer, US based FAAC Incorporated, are market leaders in this field and have developed simulator training for the US bus, truck and military markets.

The Simulator is based at First London’s Willesden Junction depot and forms part of the Recruitment and Training Academy.

What does the Simulator do?

The Simulator supports and enhances real life ‘on-the-road’ driver training. Its objective is to train drivers to the highest possible standard and to minimise preventable accidents.

Training leaders can set up scenarios replicating some of the worst problems a bus driver might encounter, from heavy traffic to terrible weather. A separate console allows the instructor to interact with the trainee by controlling a virtual pedestrian, taxi, cyclist, motorcycle or bus. Trainees experience the physical impact of events such as the wheel judder if they run into the kerb and the difference in the way the bus handles when road conditions are slippery through bad weather.

Progress since launch

Over 1400 staff have experienced the Simulator since its launch. These include pre-employment trainees, trainee drivers beginning on the road training, existing drivers taking one day refresher courses, drivers on routes targeted for collective training and nominated drivers that garage’s feel would benefit from this training..

Simulator feedback and results

Feedback shows that 98% of users have found the Simulator training experience relevant and useful.

Ongoing statistics are kept on drivers trained on the Simulator. Accident statistics per driving day for experienced drivers are compared to the twelve months prior to their training. Results to date are encouraging, demonstrating a real reduction in avoidable accidents.

The Simulator has seen many visitors including representatives of other London and countrywide bus operators, the Police, the Driving Standards Agency and the Road Operators Safety Council. The Simulator has also appeared on various television programmes including London Tonight, Richard Hammond’s Five O’clock Show and Jim’ll Fix It Revisited. It has also appeared on the Discovery Channel in Canada, as well as the London Buses ‘Getting It Right’ training DVD. All visitors have strongly praised this magnificent training tool.

The Simulator is and will continue in the future to be a key component of the driving training framework. It is viewed as paramount in continuing to drive down accident rates and improving customers’ perceptions and safe travel experiences.