DESIGN OF A GUIDEBOOK FOR THE ACQUISITION AND USE OF DRIVING SIMULATORS FOR TRAINING TRANSIT BUS OPE

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DESIGN OF A GUIDEBOOK FOR THE ACQUISITION AND USE
OF DRIVING SIMULATORS FOR TRAINING TRANSIT BUS
OPERATORS

• John F. Brock
• Cynthia Jacobs
• Richard Buchter
• Milestone Group, L.L.C.

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TRANSIT COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM

• 20 MONTH PROGRAM
• LITERATURE REVIEW
• SITE VISITS
• SURVEY
• TWO REPORTS
• FINAL RESEARCH REPORT
• GUIDELINES FOR ACQUIRING AND USING TRANSIT BUS
  SIMULATORS

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OVERVIEW OF PRESENTATION

• PROJECT DESCRIBED IN PUBLISHED PAPER
• THIS WILL DESCRIBE GENERAL FINDINGS
• DISCUSS GUIDEBOOK AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR
  SIMULATOR USERS

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TRAINING SIMULATOR TAXONOMY
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THREE TRANSIT BUS SIMULATOR VERSIONS

• Open Loop Video Projection
• Most Popular
• Not a true simulator
• Low-end, electro-mechanical device
• 50s Technology
• Effective for parking, backing, close maneuvering
• Mid-range simulator with rear projection
• Only four in use right now
• Best supporting data

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LEVEL 1 TRAINING APPROACH

• Eight to 16 students at a time
• Video plays on large screen independent of
  student activities
• Instructor at console monitors each students
  activity
• System monitors students reaction times by
  braking, shifting, and steering measurements

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LEVEL 2 TRAINING APPROACH

• Restricted area driving
• Used for fundamental bus driver training
• No dynamic environment
• Reasonable visual and vehicle dynamics

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LEVEL 3 TRAINING APPROACH

• 170 DEGREE FIELD OF VIEW PLUS REAR PROJECTION FOR
  MIRRORS
• TRAINS VISUAL SEARCH AND RISK RECOGNITION
• BASIC DRIVING SKILLS WITH DYNAMIC ENVIRONMENT
• PRACTICE OF SPECIFIC DRIVING MANEUVERS OF THE
  CLIENT ENVIRONMENT

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EMPIRICAL RESULTS

• 15 TO 35 PER CENT REDUCTION IN ATTRITION (LEVELS
  1 AND 2)
• REDUCTION IN TRAINING TIME (all)
• 92 OF INSTRUCTORS REPORT HIGH SATISFACTION (all)
• ABOUT A 10 SIMULATOR SICKNESS RATE REPORTED (all)

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NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT

• Four Level 3 Simulators
• In first 90 days after graduation, accident rate
  fell from 32 to 18
• Right side crashes went from highest incident to
  zero

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CONCLUSIONS

• Driving simulators can increase training
  efficiency and driver safety
• Simulators should be selected based upon tasks to
  be trained
• Curricula should be specifically designed for
  simulator-based training
• Study findings can apply to other training and
  research programs that use driving simulators

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RECOMMENDATIONS

• Guidebook should be expanded to meet trucking and
  general public driving simulator programs
• Curricula should be developed to maximize
  effectiveness of driving simulators