Researchers at America’s Morgan State University in Baltimore have installed a simulator to accurately research how drivers and cyclists interact on different types of road.

The Department of Transportation and Urban Infrastructure Studies is using a FORUM8 simulator in the hope of improving the safety of drivers.

The new research project will record how drivers and bike riders interact with each other under a range of traffic conditions and scenarios in a simulated road network. Data captured during the trials, such as speed, steering-control and braking, will be made available in a detailed report at the end of the project in order to help improve road safety training for drivers and bikers as well for highway engineers responsible for improving road layouts and signage.

The bicycle simulator has been installed in the SABA laboratory linked to the University’s two existing FORUM8 full-scale, high fidelity driving simulators and an eye-tracking system.

The department has already published research on the effects of drivers texting, reactions to VMS and using sat navs in variable traffic and weather conditions.