MAINTAINING ALERTNESS OF LOCO PILOTS
The Railways have planned to introduce
microprocessor based multi-resetting vigilance control device
in the conventional locomotives to monitor the alertness of loco
pilots (drivers) while driving.
The 4000 horse
power General Motors technology diesel locomotives have this feature,
which monitors the alertness of the loco pilot through all normal
actions performed by him while driving. These include use of throttle
handle, braking and horn. If no action is performed by loco pilot
for 20 seconds at a stretch, he gets an audio-visual indication
and if still he does not react the brakes come on automatically
within 10 seconds.
This device is
intended to maintain high level of alertmindedness of loco drivers
to improve safety of train services.
