RIPTA Bus Driver Raises Concerns About $400K “Safe Turn Alert” System

Sunday, April 23, 2017

Kate Nagle, GoLocalProv News Editor

A RIPTA bus driver, union steward has raised concerns about the efficacy of the new "safe turn alert' system -- and says he was thrown out of a meeting for having gone to the system's vendor to seek additional information.

Thirty-one-year RIPTA veteran driver Joseph Cole spoke with GoLocalProv on Friday, following GoLocal's investigation, "Does RIPTA's $400,000 Safe Turn System Work?"

"A lot of drivers aren't happy," said Cole. "The volume is too loud, and it can be set lower. But RIPTA preset it to what they want."

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Cole said that not only did drivers take issue with the new speaker being located under the drivers' side window, that he believe that engaging the system though driver use of the turn signal would be better.

"They mounted a speaker under the driver's window, but on the curbside, there's in fact the speaker for the ADA announcements and, it's not close to the driver," said Cole. "'The [safety alert] is a distraction. We can't have electronics on our seat at all -- no radios, cells, etc. So if it was mounted on the other side, drivers wouldn't be distracted."
Investigating the System

"Originally there were two prototype buses. [RIPTA] didn't ask anything from the drivers," said Cole. "I've been there 31 years, I sit on the board with the union. A lot of drivers figured it would disappear, especially when the prototype busses stopped working."

Cole said that RIPTA then opted to install the system on all the buses.

In response, Barbara Polichetti, spokesperson for RIPTA said, "The version of the “Safe Turn Alert” that RIPTA purchased performs as it was demonstrated and in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications. As you are aware, the installation is ongoing and is almost complete. In the event that there are anomalies in the fleet sound levels, we will certainly address them. RIPTA implemented this technology to protect distracted pedestrians, bicyclists, etc.by alerting them when a bus in turning."

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"They mounted the turning device on the pitman arm. It could be attached to the turn signal -- and I thought the turn signal would have been better," said Cole. "The way the put it in, if the bus turn is too tight, it can be activated twice, by the turn of the wheel and back again. By the [RIPTA] depot on Elmwood, it goes on all night long."

"So I had questions and I called [alert vendor] ProTran," said Cole. "They called me back, and she asked if I worked at RIPTA and I said I'm a union steward and I have to act on behalf of my members."

"Next thing I know at a meeting in March, I was verbally abused [by RIPTA staff] who said I misled ProTran about my position with RIPTA, and was thrown out of the meeting," said Cole.

In contrast to Cole's commnets, Polichetti said, "We always welcome any conversation to improve safety."

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Turning system

Pushing for Changes

Cole said he will continue to push for changes to be made to the new system.

"Like I said, safety comes first, but sometimes overkill kills too," said Cole. "It is what it is. People walk where they want crossing the streets -- we had instances with fatalities where drivers had not control. But it's all on us."

"I think the only option is to turn the volume down and have it announced on the speaker on the curbside," said Cole. "They're using two speakers instead of one. If the bus manufacturers wanted two speakers, they would have made busses with two speakers."

RIPTA Bus Driver Raises Concerns About $400K “Safe Turn Alert” System

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