Safety Corner

Covering diverse aspects of safety, including training, programs and products.

Posts Tagged With: driver training

'Rock & Roll' for bus operators

Transit has its own version of Rock & Roll. I once read someone’s comment that, in the case of a bus operator, ‘Rocking & Rolling’ in the seat should not occur if their mirrors are set properly. I strongly disagree with that statement and regrettably say a statement like that will precede an increase in pedestrian knockdowns, especially when turning left and departing bus stops.

In the still of the night

Greetings! I would like to answer the following question sent to me and thank the transit professional for doing so: "Just this week, we have had three bus accidents. One type of ‘repeater accident’ has been occurring in the garage involving the driver’s left rear side of our 45-foot [bus]. When turning right, the left rear driver’s side swings out and catches the roof support pole. The last two accidents took out the rear side glass. I need some preventive ideas.”

Obtaining benefits with bus simulator supplemental training

Understanding how to blend simulator supplemental training into an existing training curriculum will most definitely lead to favorable results and positive benefits to a training program. Attempting to build a curriculum around the simulator is a mistake.

Bus operator training - fair and balanced

When considering whether to make an exception in your bus operator training program to provide "extra training" (beyond what the training program offers) to a trainee who may have been close to qualifying but failed to, be warned that this can open the door to a flood of others who were terminated now demanding the same courtesy applied to them.

Performance management and the role of the simulator instructor

From the 'Bus Barn' this month arises two very important concerns regarding the use of bus simulator supplemental training: performance management and speed control. During the past year, I had the pleasure of visiting and conducting several train the trainer sessions at transit agencies in North America and Canada. I was pleased to see the passion among the trainers, as this is a necessary ingredient.

Raising the bar with bus simulation training

Readers most likely are not familiar with my past work with driver training simulation, so I want to devote this month's space to a brief description of what I discovered working with this technology and what it enabled me to do within the training department I was affiliated with.

How to improve bus operator reaction time

A discussion about bus operator reaction time will no doubt bring many different opinions on its definition. There are formulas to come up with reaction time and, maybe I'm the lone wolf on this subject, but breaking down the science of reaction time for bus operators is something I did not spend much time doing. Allow me to share with you something that I feel is of greater importance, the "Adverse Reaction Tip Off!"

Sharing information for the good of safe operations

I have taken much pleasure during my 33 years in transit to see the unselfish sharing among transit training professionals. There are many opportunities each year to be part of this information sharing/gathering. You can start by researching the various industry conferences, workshops, etc. — a couple of great ones are listed below — and attending them.

Does an increase in bus ridership mean an increase in claims?

As the winter months arrive, ridership is up in many transit properties across the country, with some reporting as much as a 5 percent to 8 percent spike. Unfortunately, this increase can also come with a spike in collisions.

Is there a Sully in you?

No one will ever forget the sight of that US Airways plane making a landing in New York City's Hudson River that frigid day in January 2009. As a Bronx native, I, along with millions of others who have made the daily commute down the Henry Hudson Parkway, could never have expected something like this would ever happen.

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Author Bio

Janna Starcic

Executive Editor


Louie Maiello

Former director of training, New York City Transit Bus & Safety Division and 2003 NTI Fellow, is a consultant for FAAC Inc., bus simulation division, and an independent consultant for "Bus Talk" Surface Solutions.


Nicole Schlosser

Senior Editor


White Papers

Hazard Analysis: The Practice of Using Cell Phones While Operating a Transit Vehicle Examining system safety principles, available information in the public domain, recent transit incidents and policies.

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MERTO Magazine - June 2012

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