Riding In A Simulation… For Safety

[advrider]

Is the Honda CB500X a street bike, or an adventure bike? With a new safety program based in the UK, the answer is that the CB-X can be whatever you want, as it serves as the physical component of a new motorcycle safety simulator program.

Across the pond in Old Blighty, the Vision Zero South West safety initiative (based in the southwestern UK, as you might guess by the name) is now using the national Department for Transport’s  Project Apex simulation program to teach riders how to avoid unsafe situations. In that region, motorcyclists make up 20 percent of the road fatalities, despite only being 1 percent of the motorists on the street, so you can see why they might be concerned.

Despite looking for photos or videos of what the Project Apex program actually looks like, I’ve come up short. We’ll have to rely on their own description of what to expect from the hardware:

Using a real motorbike – a Honda CB500X – the simulator uses authentic controls including brakes, clutch, throttle and indicators to replicate real-life road conditions.

The rider is surrounded by seamlessly integrated video screens to provide a truly immersive experience. All manner of road layouts, weather conditions and driving environments can be replicated in an instant – enhanced by realistic vibration, surround sound and working wing mirrors.

The custom software is designed to improve rider’s hazard awareness skills and can recreate any number of scenarios.

While someone uses the hardware, a set of program instructors (some of them are police riding trainers) watch their activity in real-time and give feedback on the riders’ actions, and advice on how to improve.

The simulator is going to be going through the regions of Devon and Cornwall as part of a year-long pilot project in 2024, gauging its effectiveness. It’s hard to imagine how they could learn much of use during that short time, but at least it’s a better idea than just inventing new laws to hassle motorcyclists.

For more details, check out the Vision Zero Southwest website here.

Vezi sursa