Spartan Chassis' Focus: Firefighter Safety
Spartan Chassis Unveils New Safety-Related Technologies
NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 13 -- Spartan Chassis, a subsidiary of Spartan Motors, Inc. , is growing their strong position as a leader in safety with their introduction today of several innovations to their chassis that address firefighter safety on the way to and from the fire.
The leading manufacturer of fire truck chassis today introduced several safety-related technologies, including a computerized roll stabilization system, seatbelt sensor system and other innovations designed to improve vehicle performance, enhance passenger safety and ultimately save lives. Spartan is showcasing the new technologies in booth #3926 at the IAFC Fire- Rescue International industry conference in New Orleans, August 12-15.
"These new technologies are designed to make fire trucks and firefighters safer, and they specifically address some of the key factors that contribute to vehicle-related firefighter injuries or death," said Rich Schalter, president of Spartan Chassis. "Of the firefighter deaths last year in vehicle crashes, 73% involved collisions or rollovers and a quarter of the firefighters were not wearing seatbelts.
"As a manufacturer, we are driven to design high performance emergency rescue vehicles, and this also means developing the best technology when it comes to passenger and vehicle safety," Schalter added. "In fact, Spartan's new cab designs are among a select few that pass the fire industry's most stringent static load and crash tests."
Spartan said it has teamed with automotive engineer and manufacturer Meritor ABCO to bring their advanced Roll Stability Control System to the fire truck market. The computerized system monitors the vehicle's rollover threshold and automatically activates a device to slow the vehicle when the threshold is exceeded.
Spartan is also introducing a Seatbelt Sensor System that signals the driver and officer if a crewmember does not have their seatbelt buckled when the vehicle starts. This feature -- the first of its kind -- will assist in the safe travel of rescue workers to and from emergencies and aid in decreasing the number of injuries that occur while the vehicle is in transit.
From the entry-level Big Easy chassis to the Gladiator, Spartan cabs and chassis are engineered with state-of-the-art safety features that allow them to pass the most stringent emergency vehicle static load and crash tests. Every cab that Spartan builds is constructed with high-quality materials that have been designed and tested to withstand rough conditions, both on and off the road.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the number of firefighters killed in vehicular accidents nationwide increased in 2003 and more died en route to fires than were killed in blazes. In 2003, 33 firefighters died in on-duty crashes, while 29 firefighters died battling fires. The number of vehicle-related deaths was the most in any year since 1977, when the association began tracking the data.
In response to this, the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation partnered to initiate the Fire Service Emergency Vehicle Safety Initiative, a project with a long-term goal of reducing the number of firefighters killed responding to and returning from emergencies and from being struck on the roadway. This project examined issues involving human performance (driver), technology (vehicle design), and emergency operations for the effective mitigation of this problem. As a follow on to the Fire Service Emergency Vehicle Safety Initiative, USFA has initiated partnerships with the IAFC, the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) to reduce the number of firefighters killed while responding to or returning from the emergency scene and operating on the roadway.
Spartan Chassis is involved with several fire service organizations and their safety initiatives and is also conducting road tests and developing technology to continue to improve fire truck safety.
About Spartan Chassis:
Spartan Chassis, Inc. (http://www.spartanchassis.com/ ) operates under Spartan Motors, Inc. and is a leading developer and manufacturer of custom chassis for recreational vehicles and fire trucks. The company has a reputation for high quality, value, service and being the first to market with innovative products. Spartan Motors is publicly traded in the NASDAQ Stock Market under the ticker symbol SPAR.