The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) has launched a new, six-month pilot for bus technologies that aim to improve safety for operators, pedestrians, cyclists and motorists.
A fleet of thirty buses have now been equipped with technology designed to warn operators and vulnerable road users of potential collisions before they occur.
Additionally, a number of vehicles have also been fitted with new displays that reduce blind spots for operators.
TTC Chair Jamaal Myers said:Safety is paramount at the TTC, and I welcome any opportunity to improve safety for both TTC operators and transit users.
Through this six-month pilot, the TTC will gather valuable information and insights, and I look forward to seeing the results.
Both pedestrians and cyclists outside TTC buses will hear two warnings: ‘Caution, bus approaching’ when near a moving bus, and ‘Danger, step back’ when there is a risk of collision.
Inside the bus, operators will receive collision warnings through a flashing panel and audible alert, with the activation of these systems based on the distance between buses and the elements around them, as well as how fast they are currently travelling.
Pilot buses are set to run along the 29/329/929 Dufferin, 63/363 Ossington, 161 Rogers Rd and 168 Symington routes – all of which are heavily used by a mix of pedestrians, motorists and cyclists.
Eventually, the pilot’s performance data will be used to determine each technology’s effectiveness, assessing the feasibility for incorporating them into the existing bus fleet.
