The challenge sees bus operators teaming up with system developers to develop and test solutions.
TfL supports the trials by funding independent analysis: if shown to be efficient at reducing casualties, the systems could be included in the TfL Bus Safety Standard.
The five applications being funded are: a fatigue monitoring tool by Datik, to be trialled by Abellio; Humanising Autonomy’s software to anticipate behaviour of pedestrians or cyclists, trialled by Arriva; the Lytx video-based driver coaching programme, trialled by CT Plus; a lighting system, from JBDL, to illuminate areas around the bus, trialled by Metroline; and Fusion’s pedestrian and cyclist detection system, which alerts drivers quicker than a human can, to be trialled by Stagecoach.
Claire Mann, TfL’s director of bus operations, says: “Our Bus Safety Standard is resulting in safer buses arriving in London this year, and this fund will harness the power of innovators – ensuring it complements our standard – helping to make deaths and serious injuries on our roads a thing of the past.”