Bus drivers will be actively encouraged to play computer games at work, it has been revealed.
For most people, being paid to play games sounds too good to be true. So why have bus drivers been asked to play one of Crucial Interactive Media's safety games?
The idea is to empower bus drivers to “get inside the minds of their young passengers, on the daily run to and from school”, said Ian Burt, student behaviour officer at Essex County Council’s Passenger Transport Centre.
Children and teenagers are already learning about staying safe on buses through computer games. Crucial Crew Interactive lets them simulate a real bus journey to school and find out what could happen if they bundle onto the bus, distract the driver or throw a can of fizzy drink around.
"It’s really important that the drivers see how children in the county are already learning how to avoid the potential dangers of public transport, using computer games," said Tom Houston, safety partnerships manager for Crucial Crew Interactive. “We have had requests to use our game as a training aid for operators”, said Ian Burt. The scheme will unfold across Essex over the latter part of 2007 as more children and teens access the game in lessons and at home. More than 20 bus and coach operators currently provide transport services in Essex.
The bus safety game, sponsored by Essex County Council, can be played from the Crucial Crew Interactive website by clicking here .
