Volvo Trucks Collision Warning with Emergency Brake System

[xcel]

Even Big Rigs are receiving the most advanced safety technologies

Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Oct. 10, 2012

Distraction and inattention can be fatal for any driver, particularly with unexpected stoppages in traffic occur. Volvo Trucks' collision warning with emergency brake, helps drivers prevent rear-end collisions by refocusing the big rig drivers attention back to the traffic ahead. When a critical situation is detected, a series of collision warnings prompt the driver to react, and if the driver fails to react, the emergency brakes ensure that a fatal collision is prevented.

In the trucking industry, rear-end collisions account for a significant proportion of accidents involving big rigs and other automobiles of all different sizes and configurations. In order to reduce the propensity and severity of this type of accident, Volvo Trucks has developed Collision Warning with Emergency Brake – an advanced emergency braking system which also includes early collision warning similar to those used on the most advanced safety equipped cars on the road today.

The new system combines a radar and camera that work together to identify and monitor vehicles in front. The system is designed to deal with both stationary and moving vehicles and can prevent a collision with a moving target at relative speeds of up to 42 mph. When the system detects a vehicle that the truck will hit at its current speed, the warning system activates a constant red light in the windscreen in order to bring the driver's attention back on the road directly ahead.

However, if the truck fails to detect any reaction from the driver, such as steering or braking, the system upgrades to a flashing red light and a beeping sound. If there is still no reaction, the system applies the brakes gently. When all this fails, the system activates the emergency braking system and does everything possible to bring the truck to a stop before an accident occurs.

Carl Johan Almqvist, Traffic & Product Safety Director, Volvo Trucks:

"We began by asking ‘what really is the problem?'. The answer is inattention. If you watched the traffic ahead of you the whole time, you wouldn't need systems like these."

In Europe, emergency braking systems will be a legal requirement in new trucks by November 2015.

The braking system is now available on the new Volvo FH Series line and was been developed to support the driver so that the majority of these rear-end collisions can be avoided or mitigated.

Just like the radar and camera Smart braking systems being introduced in cars from every manufacturers as of late, this is a first for Trucks that I know of. Would it not be spectacular if all trucks had these types of systems on them?

[MikeMarsUK]

Surprised that they didn't put in a similar system for the two blind spots either side of the cab. That's one of the biggest causes of accidents here (there is a mix of LHD & RHD vehicles which makes things worse).

[Right Lane Cruiser]

This is a great advance for those situations the driver can't control quickly enough (or at all in the case of an ailment such as heart issues, for example) but I'm concerned this will have the same effect as the ever more massive SUVs have had on the American driving public. It seems that the larger and "safer" a vehicle is the more aggressive and less focused a driver becomes (on average). I'm all for adding extra safety but if it comes at the cost of even laxer driving habits it may not be worth it.

I can think of 3 scenarios a driver could easily get into with inattention or misunderstanding of the system which would still result in fatalities:

1. Veering into oncoming traffic (texting anyone?)
2. Taking an exit from the highway at high speed toward a backed up line at a light
3. Changing lanes suddenly into much slower moving traffic

Without consistent and rigorous training insisting drivers do as much as humanly possible to stay safe it could be just as easy for a truck driver to trust the system too much as it is for 4x4 drivers to trust their systems too much in slippery conditions. This leads to lack of attention (because the system will "save" the driver) and poor decisions (because of lack of understanding of limitations or even basic functionality).

I suppose what I'm saying is though these advances are fantastic, they need to be coupled with another effort to improve drivers substantially.