Traffic Lessons: Avoiding Bike Accidents with Virtual Reality
The city of Zurich is experimenting with VR in traffic lessons at schools. A pilot test with VR/AR service provider Bandara and the ZHAW was a success.
There are more and more cyclists in Zurich - and unfortunately also more and more bicycle accidents. Between 2012 and 2016, the number of accidents rose by 50 percent. To make cyclists more aware of the dangers of road traffic, the city is using an innovative and attractive approach: virtual reality videos. Together with the Zurich-based virtual and augmented reality service provider Bandara, six 360° training films were produced. They allow viewers to slip directly into the role of a cyclist and train hazard recognition from a first-person perspective. The films show everyday situations such as car doors opening, cars turning or streetcars approaching from behind. The experience of watching these films with VR glasses is particularly realistic and the learning effect is correspondingly high.
Because children reacted particularly positively to the virtual reality films, a pilot test was carried out in six Zurich school classes in the summer. Traffic psychologists from the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) provided scientific support for the trial and came to the conclusion that virtual reality traffic lessons have a positive effect, particularly on pupils' motivation and perception of danger.
