Assistance Systems Save Lives – How Well Do You Know Your Truck?

Technologies in vehicles continue to grow and provide added elements of safety on the road. ADAS or Advanced Driver Assistance Systems are designed and performed to assist the person behind the wheels during driving.

The basic objective of this human-machine interface is to increase the safety feature for both, those inside the car and those on foot or in other vehicles.

Driver assistance systems are becoming compulsory for trucks. They minimize the danger in road traffic for the driver and other road users. Predictive driver assistance systems can prevent accidents using sensor technology and calculations. However, not all trucks are equipped with these systems. Some of them are also criticized because they work better in theory than in practice.

How does it help the older drivers?

Road safety for senior citizens or aged drivers is largely defined by physical vulnerability and functional limitations. In case of a crash, both these factors contribute to the relatively high mortality rate in older drivers as compared to the younger lot.

ADAS warns them beforehand and accordingly, helps them with extra time to think and act.

How does it help the young drivers?

Though young drivers are mentally alert, nevertheless they are prone to distractions of the digital world. With ADAS systems safety is ensured and it avoids accidents.

Summary of the most common driver assistance systems:

Turning assistants: Sensors check the entire side of the truck and a lane width next to it. If something or someone moves in this area, the driver receives a light signal. If there is an acute risk of an accident, an acoustic signal sound. If the driver does not interrupt fast some of the systems can also brake automatically. This driver assistance system is helpful at junctions and especially on the motorway when changing lanes.

Adaptive cruise control: This driver assistance system uses a front camera to measure the distance to the vehicle in front and adjusts the speed of the truck accordingly to maintain the prescribed distance.

Work lights: One can use them to carefully illuminate the corresponding spaces.

ABS: The anti-lock braking system is important and it ensures that the wheels do not lock during braking. This means the vehicle can still be steered during braking.

ESP: The Electronic Stability Program has also been necessary for trucks. It prevents the truck from skidding when over-or understeering in a bend and ensures safety.

Blindspot camera system: There are several blind spots on the truck that the driver cannot see. The camera system films all these angles with cameras at the front, rear and both sides of the truck. This is helpful for the driver.

Speed limit while reversing: The system limits the possible speed when reversing to 9 km/h. Here the driver has enough time to find the right lock angle.

Light sensor: It senses the lighting conditions and automatically adjusts the truck’s headlights.

Emergency braking assistant: This driver assistance system is already mandatory in all trucks produced since 2015. The emergency brake assistant continuously calculates the speed and distance to other road users.

It alerts the driver with visual and acoustic signals if the speed is too high and the distance is too short.

Reversing assistant: A rear-view camera makes this task easier, and a beep warns you of a possible collision.

Driving assistance systems also come with cons:

While some driver assistance systems are more of a nice feature to have and it can save a life, it happens time and again that truck drivers switch them off.

The lane departure warning system does not understand and thus it can be harmful in traffic at times.

Benefits:

ADAS that includes collision warning, obstacle detection and automated lane changing and breaking services can draw attention to approaching cyclists and pedestrians, alert drivers to cyclists situated in blind spots, assist the driver in making informed decisions/take calculated actions and provide advanced information on upcoming traffic conditions.