A collision avoidance system, which is also referred to as a driver assistance system, is meant to prevent collisions and lessen the severity of any that do occur. There are many different types of these safety systems, ranging from emergency braking to AI machine vision technology.
Another advanced safety system that is gaining a lot of recognition is the forward collision warning system (FCW). The FCW assists with monitoring the vehicle’s speed as well as the speed and distance of the vehicle in front of it. By alerting the driver whenever the two vehicles get too close, this system helps prevent dangerous front crashes.
While these systems are commonly installed in passenger vehicles, large trucks also benefit from front crash prevention systems. Even though large truck drivers usually crash less, when they do, the results tend to be more deadly due to the truck’s size and weight. With the rate of large truck crashes rising, equipping these vehicles with collision avoidance systems has never been more important.
Benefits of Equipping Trucks With Front Crash Prevention
In the United States, both passenger vehicles and trucks are not currently required to have any type of front crash prevention. However, while it may not be required, having front crash prevention systems installed represents a significant fleet safety benefit for trucking companies and their drivers.
These systems typically use either a radar system, camera or sensor to monitor and alert the driver. Combined with automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems, this could help prevent and reduce the severity of large truck crashes, helping enhance overall fleet safety.
Recent studies back this up. In fact, in their study of SmartDrive Systems data, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found that when heavy-duty vehicles are equipped with forward collision warning systems, they experience 22% fewer crashes than vehicles that don’t have any collision avoidance systems. Reducing approximately two out of five large truck crashes is significant, making these systems worth considering.
This study also revealed that having both forward collision warning as well as automatic emergency braking systems eliminates the chances of a rear-end crash by over 40%.
Along with reducing the crash rate, front crash prevention also offers the benefit of speed reduction, making any impact less severe. Whether the driver is alerted and reduces their speed or the automated system applies the brakes for them, it will reduce the chances of serious injuries and death on impact.
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Manages Hazmat School’s E-Learning courses and blog. Kirstie has extensive experience in the online training and education industry. Kirstie has worked with courses that offer a variety of safety and environmental certifications that satisfy OSHA, EPA and DOT requirements.
