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SAFETY * Sweden - Volvo made it a priority long before other automakers
Volvo Sets Zero Serious Injury Goal with New Collision Warning System
Stockholm,Sweden -The New York Times (USA) -October 14, 2009: -- Volvo it's preparing to introduce new S60 in US next year. Will feature new collision warning system w/ full auto brake and pedestrian detection. Radar, camera and computer enable warning system... Volvo's collision warning system warns driver, then takes over. Driver gets a flashing warning light and audible warning. If driver doesn't respond, the computer can fully apply brakes... Thomas Broberg, senior safety adviser, Volvo said "Active brake deployment requires that the object is confirmed by both the radar and the camera. Thanks to state-of-the-art sensor technology, it is now possible to engage full braking power"...
(Video from YouTube, by automotoportal - 10 Jun 2006: Volvo previews new generation collision warning system)
* USA - NHTSA foresees big savings with ESC
Washinbgton,DC,USA -Fleet Owner, by Sean Kilcarr -October 22, 2009: -- The days of electronic stability systems being merely optional technology for tractor-trailer fleets might well be numbered following a new study conducted by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) under a cooperative agreement between NHTSA and Meritor WABCO, the study examines the performance of electronic stability control (ESC) systems and roll stability control (RSC) systems for tractor-trailers... The Safety Benefits of Stability Control Systems For Tractor-Semitrailers report contains some powerful data... The findings are extremely interesting:
• Assuming that all existing 5-axle tractor-trailers operating on U.S. roads were fitted with RSC, the expected annual rollover relevant safety benefit is a reduction of 3,489 crashes, 106 fatalities, and 4,384 injuries.
• Alternatively, assuming that all existing 5-axle tractor-trailers operating on U.S. roads were fitted with ESC, the expected annual combined rollover and directional (yaw) instability relevant safety benefit is a reduction of 4,659 crashes, 126 fatalities, and 5,909 injuries.
• Because ESC addresses both rollover and yaw instability crashes and it is more effective in mitigating rollover crashes (through additional braking capabilities over RSC), the net annual expected benefit for an ESC system was found to be greater than for RSC.
• The study found that ESC provided more overall safety benefit than RSC, though the difference between the estimated effectiveness of RSC and ESC varied among crash scenarios.
• Assuming ESC was fitted to all tractor-trailers, savings from rollovers prevented by ESC are estimated at $1.527 billion annually, and from LOC [loss-of-control] crashes prevented at $210 million annually, for a total of $1.738 billion annually.
• Assuming RSC was fitted to all tractor-semitrailers, savings from rollovers prevented at estimated at $1.409 billion annually, and from LOC crashes prevented at $47 million annually, for a total estimated benefit of $1.456 billion annually.
(Video from YouTube, by MFcoza - 10 April 2007: 5th Gear tests stability control and ABS and shows how much of a difference it can make on one of the worst surfaces we drive on - Ice)
Labels: driving safety
posted by Unknown @ 3:20 PM
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