Together for Safer Roads Expands Truck of the Future Program to Enhance School Bus Safety in New York City
New York:Together for Safer Roads (TSR) is pleased to announce an expansion of its Truck of the Future (TOF) Program to now include a “School Bus of the Future” extension. This new initiative is one part of the ambitious, new multi-pronged School Bus Safety Transition Plan released today by the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services and the NYC Department of Education Office of Pupil Transportation. The “School Bus of the Future” pilot will focus on mitigating blind zones via technology such as surround cameras, in-cab driver alerting systems like pedestrian collision warning (PCW) and back up sensors – with the long-term goal of effecting school bus design that increases direct vision, especially as bus electrification offers additional opportunities for direct vision in new buses. This new pilot program will also provide near miss collision reporting and analysis.
TSR’s original Truck of the Future Program (TOF) works to address the important safety issue of blind zones in commercial trucks. An innovative, technology-focused initiative, the Truck of the Future pilot enables participating cities and companies to equip their fleets with state-of-the-art hardware and software solutions. In addition, pilot participants receive comprehensive training and support, creating a robust program aimed at best integrating the technology into current systems and procedures. NYC DCAS is one of the first city fleet participants in the pilot program.
The Problem: Driver skill alone cannot overcome what he or she cannot see. School buses, constantly stopping and driving in areas where children embark or disembark, face a unique set of challenges due to limited visibility. This poses difficulties for drivers in making the safest choices, especially in densely populated and residential areas.
The Solution: Building on the success of the Truck of the Future Program, TSR and NYC DCAS, in conjunction with video telematics partners, will implement a state-of-the-art Vulnerable Road User (VRU) Detection System on school buses. This technology utilizes advanced camera systems to provide a comprehensive 360-degree view around the vehicle, offering real-time feedback on imminent risks and near-misses. The installation of this system is poised to significantly enhance both driver safety and the safety of schoolchildren, other pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists.
“As a development stemming from the Truck of the Future program, we are thrilled to announce the School Bus of the Future initiative,” said Peter Goldwasser, Executive Director of Together for Safer Roads. “With a commitment to advancing road safety, TSR recognizes the unique challenges faced by school bus drivers in ensuring the well-being of the precious cargo they transport. This expansion underscores the power of cross-sector collaboration and innovation to make our roads and vehicle fleets safer.”