APD Officers learn to drive a bus

A group of seven Austin police officers have spent this week training with Capital Metro instructors, learning how to drive a bus. Part of the training was spent behind the wheel of Capital Metro's high-tech bus simulator, as shown in this video by KTBC last night.



Once the officers receive their commercial drivers licenses (they're taking the driving exam this morning), they'll be tasked with operating the City's new Breath Alcohol Testing bus, or B.A.T bus, which was donated to APD by Capital Metro.

Capital Metro has an ongoing partnership with APD to prepare officers to operate buses in the event of an emergency. We've helped a total of 21 officers obtain a commercial drivers license since 2000.

All new Capital Metro bus operators who were hired since 2006 (when we purchased the bus simulator), have had an opportunity to train with the high-tech equipment.