Technology Will Increase Truck Safety
5 May 1999
Technology Will Increase Truck Safety, Freightliner CEO Hebe Tells NTSB, Senate
PORTLAND, Ore.--May 4, 1999--Technology will continue to hold the promise for improving truck safety, Freightliner President and CEO James L. Hebe testified at recent hearings in Washington, D.C.Advanced systems that warn drivers of road hazards, combat driver fatigue and improve vehicle performance will be paramount in helping truck fleets navigate North America's ever more congested highways, Hebe told federal officials.
The Freightliner CEO was in Washington April 14 to testify before the National Transportation Safety Board. He also submitted written comments for a U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearing on truck and bus safety on April 27.
In his remarks, Hebe projected -- without significant productivity gains -- an increase of 700,000 to 900,000 heavy-duty trucks on the nation's highways over the next five years. To ensure continued safety of truck drivers and the motoring public, truck manufacturers must offer a variety of technological countermeasures.
"We have to provide the technology and support services that give the drivers the greatest possible opportunity to avoid accidents but minimize the damage and protect the truck occupants if the accident can't be avoided," Hebe stated.
Freightliner already offers a variety of safety systems as standard or optional equipment, Hebe pointed out.
Available on Freightliner's Century Class and Argosy heavy-duty trucks is the Eaton Vorad EVT-300 Collision Warning system. Designed to alert drivers to objects to the front and side of the truck, EVT-300 sounds a warning when a vehicle comes into close proximity of the truck. Freightliner soon will offer Eaton Vorad's Smart Cruise option, which automatically holds a safe headway distance in traffic. And this fall, the company will unveil a lane departure warning system that alerts the driver when the truck is about to leave its lane.
Freightliner was the first manufacturer to introduce anti-lock braking systems in 1987 and ABS became standard on Freightliner trucks in 1995, well ahead of the federal mandate. The company now provides an advanced electronic braking system (EBS), which improves braking control and lateral stability. When combined with disc brakes, EBS helps the truck stop within 200 feet at 60 mph.
Freightliner trucks also feature large windshields and mirrors, for excellent visibility, and other safety measures like daytime running lights, conspicuity striping and anti-spray devices, which protect traffic from flying debris.
Helping to combat driver fatigue is an in-cab air flow management system, which keeps the air inside the cab fresh and the driver alert.
In the event of an accident, drivers of Freightliner trucks are protected by some of the most crashworthy cabs in the industry. Century Class and Argosy truck cabs are designed to exceed European ECE R-29 and SAE structural standards. Also safeguarding the driver is an air bag and a unique seat and seatbelt pretensioning -- or SPACE -- system, which pulls the driver away from the roof and steering wheel during a collision.
And in 1998, Freightliner introduced the Argosy Safety Concept Vehicle, which brings together many of these safety features in a more productive, environmental- and infrastructure-friendly vehicle. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration currently is testing this truck.
"Great strides have been made in improving truck and bus safety in recent years, such that we now have some of the lowest injury and fatality rates ever," Hebe told the regulators and legislators. "Technology has and will continue to offer opportunities for further improvement."
Hebe said the federal government must do more to encourage widespread adoption of onboard safety systems.
While many of the nation's largest truck fleets have invested heavily in truck safety technology, the current 12% excise tax on new truck purchases gives some truck operators an incentive to buy the cheapest possible truck.
He suggested introducing federal tax incentives -- similar to those available for alternative fuel vehicles -- for fleets purchasing vehicle safety systems.
"There is ample precedent in the form of existing federal tax incentives on the incremental cost of alternative fuel trucks for emissions reduction," Hebe said. "Certainly, safety can be no less important."
While technology holds tremendous potential to increase highway safety, it is not a panacea, Hebe cautioned.
The industry must take an integrated approach which considers all the factors that impact highway safety. Special attention must be devoted to driver recruitment, instruction, behavior and performance.
"We need to focus on all aspects of the driver, including training, enhanced licensing and fatigue management," Hebe said. "The driver remains the key to safe operations."
Making strides in truck and highway safety -- while at the same time ensuring industry growth and profitability -- will require a cooperative effort from all stakeholders in the transportation industry and a "progressive dialog" with government, he added.
"Our industry -- manufacturers, operators and shippers alike -- needs to be a proactive supporter, not only for safety improvements, but for a package of measures that promote economic growth, reduce accidents and lessen congestion," he said.
Freightliner Corporation, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, is the leading heavy truck manufacturer in North America. Freightliner produces and markets Class 3-8 trucks under the Freightliner, Sterling, American LaFrance and Thomas Built Buses nameplates and is a DaimlerChrysler company, the world's leading commercial vehicle manufacturer.