SEPTA Moves Forward With Audible Warning System For Buses
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Hoping to avoid accidents involving pedestrians, SEPTA is moving ahead with a system that issues an audible warning when a bus is making a turn.
Anyone crossing the street on foot or on a bicycle can now expect to hear this robotic warning from SEPTA buses as they make a turn.
"Pedestrians, bus is turning."
Inside the bus the driver is told to look both ways. The warnings sound automatically once the driver starts to turn. After a successful six-month pilot run, SEPTA has decided to go all in. General Manager Jeffrey Knueppel believes it's a better way to get the attention of pedestrians distracted by their phones and the growing legion of bicyclists.
"From the creation of dedicated bike lanes and the success of the Indego bike share program, to the expansion of the bike trail network across our region, we've all seen an increase in the number of people using bikes," Knueppel said.
In addition to the verbal warning, the system uses a strobe light to get your attention. SEPTA plans to have it installed on all buses later this year.
