What does it take to drive a bus? Patience? Precision? Years of practice?
At the TRB Annual Meeting (#TRBAM), we set out to answer that question in a way that no presentation or panel discussion could, putting you behind the wheel!
MassDOT approached us with a challenge: create an interactive experience for their exhibit, “Empathy at the Intersection.” They wanted to go beyond traditional exhibits to give attendees a chance to see the world from a bus driver’s seat... literally! As champions of immersive training and VR-based learning, we knew we could bring their vision to life.
The result? Two innovative experiences designed to open minds and spark empathy.
The Driving Simulator: A First-Hand View of Life as a Bus Driver
For many attendees, the suite of experiences at the virtual intersection was the highlight of the conference. Our hybrid simulator transformed the act of driving into a deeper learning experience. Participants got behind the wheel of a virtual bus for 7 minutes, navigating four challenging zones that tested their skills, and their patience!
Each zone was a snapshot of what bus drivers handle every day:
Navigating rural roads with distracted car drivers.
Navigating hazards in urban situations and roundabouts.
Unpredictable traffic, school buses, and variable speed zones.
Mastering freeways, railroads, and parking.
It wasn’t just about operating a bus. It was about stepping into a driver’s mindset, thinking through their decisions, and understanding their responsibilities.
For many, it was an eye-opener. Comments like “I didn’t realize how hard this was!” and “How do they make it look so easy?” filled the reflection board.
VR Training: Unpacking the Expertise of a CDL Holder
If the simulator was about experiencing the challenges of driving, our VR training station was about understanding the expertise behind it.
This hands-on activity walked participants through the rigorous knowledge and skills required to pass a Class-B CDL test. Here’s what they experienced:
A knowledge quiz covering technical rules and safety protocols.
An AR exploration of a bus driver’s cabin, showing the complexity of controls and blind spots.
A VR wheel well training session, where participants could virtually deconstruct and reconstruct a bus’s wheel assembly.
These details show the extra requirements needed for a CDL-ClassB that are above and beyond a typical driver's license.
The wheel well training was especially powerful. VR affords us the ability to learn things that in real life are impossible, costly, risky, and time-intensive. We can make them understandable, accessible, and safe in our virtual training spaces. And participants loved it.
The Impact: When Technology Inspires Understanding
By the end of the event, the takeaway was clear: empathy can be built through experience. The exhibit was more than demonstrating our technology, it was about creating connections, shifting perspectives, and helping people appreciate the skill and effort required to operate a bus.
For us, the experience was unforgettable. Long days and skipped lunches were a small price to pay for the smiles, questions, and “aha” moments we witnessed.
The reflection board captured the impact in attendees’ own words. Comments ranged from “I’ll never see bus drivers the same way again” to “This should be mandatory training for all road users.”
What’s Next?
Empathy is a powerful tool for transforming how we interact with each other on the road. As we continue to explore the potential of VR and simulation, we’re excited to take this mission further, creating experiences that educate, inspire, and connect.
What other road users could benefit from having their stories told? The possibilities are endless and we’re just getting started.
For more info on the TRB event:
Search twitter for #TRBAM and #EmpathyIntersection
Check out the full story at https://www.driversoftomorrow.com/post/turning-a-driving-simulator-into-an-empathy-emulator
Read our LinkedIn article https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7284613149905825792/#
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