Groundbreaking technology designed to enhance bus drivers’ awareness of pedestrians and cyclists is being piloted on a Stratford bus route.
Two buses on Route 25 will be fitted with the high-tech safety equipment as part of a six-week trial starting later this month.
The technology directly alerts bus drivers when pedestrians and cyclists are moving close to their vehicles, helping to reduce collisions.
CycleEye uses radar and optical technology to detect cyclists in close proximity before audibly alerting the driver to their presence, while Cycle Safety Shield gives a visual warning and audible alert for pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.
The trial is part of Transport for London’s plan to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on London’s roads by 40 per cent by 2020.
A report detailing the findings of the trial and suggested next steps will be available later this year.
Isabel Dedring, Deputy Mayor for Transport, said: “This is another great example of London leading the way by using the latest innovative technology to further improve safety for every road user.
“We’ve seen real improvements in reducing the number of accidents on our streets involving buses and if this trial proves successful we’ll look to roll it out further across London’s fleet.”
TfL’s Managing Director for Surface Transport, Leon Daniels, said: “We are all pedestrians, and the number of people cycling in London is increasing, therefore it is vital that we continue to make London’s streets as safe as possible.
“This forthcoming trial of innovative detection technology on London Buses will build on the positive trends we’ve seen in reducing serious injuries and demonstrates our commitment to making London’s streets safe for all.”
Two buses on Route 73, which runs from Victoria to Stoke Newington via Oxford Circus and Kings Cross, will also be fitted with the new technology during the trial.
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