UI Cambus news release
UI Cambus is piloting new safety equipment on two buses that is intended to help transit operators be more aware of vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians and cyclists, and prevent collisions. The pilot will test how effective operators find the equipment and if it is a good fit for the transit system.
“Our team is always looking for opportunities to improve the safety or quality of our services,” says Mia Brunelli, Cambus manager. “We look forward to seeing if this innovative technology is effective for our operators.”
The new equipment features three separate components that work together to improve safety: a collision avoidance and warning system, digital traffic mirrors, and a pedestrian alert system.
Collision avoidance and warning
Mobile Shield+ is an advanced collision avoidance system that uses sensors mounted on the outside of the bus to detect when a pedestrian or cyclist may be in the bus’ path. When a potential conflict is detected, the system provides visual and audio alerts to the bus operator.
The Advanced Pedestrian Alert System makes external announcements from a speaker to warn pedestrians or cyclists if they are getting too close to a moving vehicle. The system also provides following distance warnings to operators to prevent forward-collision accidents.
Digital traffic mirrors
E-mirrors have been affixed to the inside of the bus to replace the traditional exterior rear-traffic mirrors. The e-mirrors use live feeds from cameras mounted on the outside of the bus to monitor traffic. The e-mirrors work with the collision avoidance system and give visual warnings when pedestrians or cyclists are detected, even in blind spots.
New interior equipment left to right: E-mirrors, driver information display, and a front end sensor.
“We have seen this technology demonstrated at industry trade shows over the years and want to test it ourselves,” says Brunelli. “With the high density of pedestrians and cyclists on our campus, we want to provide every advantage we can for our operators to navigate the roads safely.”
Benefits and pilot program details
The safety equipment is designed to tackle issues related to limited visibility and blind spots, which are particularly challenging with large vehicles like buses. Additionally, the external speakers are intended to boost pedestrian awareness of moving vehicles, while e-mirrors provide operators with an improved field of vision. The systems are meant to help operators and do not override or control any aspect of a bus’ operation.
The system also provides dashboard reporting to Cambus supervisors and management. The dashboards identify “hot spots” where hazards have been detected. Over time, this data may be used to aid safety programs.
The pilot program is expected to last one to two years, with the possibility of equipping additional buses to further assess its effectiveness. Evaluation for potential fleet-wide implementation will incorporate feedback from operators and supervisors, as well as data gathered throughout the pilot phase.