SBS Transit's Bus Captain Development Centre Continues to Invest in Technology

His name is Vigil and he is known amongst Bus Captains as being uncompromising and rather unforgiving. Make a mistake during any of his tests and you can guarantee he will dock off the points. Indeed, nothing escapes him.

Vigil, whose full name is Vigil Vanguard, is the resident assessor at SBS Transit's Bus Captain Development Centre (BCDC) and he is a machine. He has been in commission since 2006 and has been helping SBS Transit Bus Captains over the years.

Using in-vehicle video cameras, sensors as well as a mapping software, Vigil captures the Bus Captain's driving behavior while he is on the move. By leveraging on technology, it analyses a whole spectrum of driving competency skills including harsh acceleration, sudden braking, incorrect turning angles and even failure to check blind spots. At the end of each session, it generates a report which provides an objective assessment of the BC's driving performance.

To further improve the robustness of the training system, an Israeli-designed driver awareness system has also been introduced. Called Mobileye, it consists of a smart camera mounted on the bus windshield to monitor road conditions so as to reduce the risk of collision. It alerts trainee BCs to objects that are within very close proximity to their buses.

In all, SBS Transit has invested over $1.2 million in the Vigil and Mobileye training systems. The latest order of 21 more sets will be installed within the year to increase the number of training places for BCs.

Every day on average about 20 BCs are trained and assessed using the Vigil system. At the BCDC in Hougang, all trainee BCs attend structured training for at least 31 days before they commence driving duties at the bus interchanges. During this time, their driving skills are assessed by Vigil so that driving faults are identified before they become ingrained as habits.

Trained BCs, on the other hand, are assessed by Vigil as part of the Company's on-going Driver Skills Enhancement Programme (DSEP) which commenced in December 2007 to ensure that good and safe driving standards are maintained. The entire cohort of close to 6,300 BCs would have undergone the DSEP before a new cycle begins. BCs are currently on the third cycle of the programme.

SBS Transit CEO, Mr Gan Juay Kiat said: "Safety is of paramount importance in our operations. We cannot afford to take it lightly and for this reason, we have invested in technology since 2006 to help us train our BCs to be safer drivers. It is not just in the heartware of providing friendly and caring service, we are also committed to providing safe and pleasant rides for our commuters. It is a responsibility that we hold very close to our hearts. Our BCDC has 39 years of experience in training our BCs and we will certainly continue to do more, to explore new technology for instance as safety underpins all that we do."

54-year-old Senior Bus Captain Teng Hwee Cheong, who has been driving SBS Transit buses for the past 12 years, said: "I am able to improve on my driving as Vigil is able to detect the smoothness of my ride whether I am braking too hard or accelerating too quickly. It has also helped me to be more conscious of the important need to check my blind spots. For example, after the entrance of the bus, I can't see what is next to me like whether a cyclist/motorcyclist is squeezing between the kerb and my bus. So if I make a left turn without checking this blind spot, an accident can happen. I can say that Vigil is very helpful."