A product to prevent reversing accidents
Dr Air Brake goes into detail about its brake safety system called Reverse Smart, an HGV auto braking safety system that promises to put a stop to reversing accidents.
Reverse Smart is a product which has been gaining momentum as large fleet operators see the huge advantages of installing the system for what is a small investment. Not only do they now have far fewer accident damaged vehicles with high repair costs to the business each month, but they are also improving worksite safety for their workers that are in the vicinity of reversing vehicles during onsite operations.
It is the result of over 35 years’ experience in dealing with ABS/EBS braking systems including research into auto brake systems. Essentially, it’s an auto-brake reverse system that fits onto all types of commercial vehicles and plant.
So how does it work?
Reverse Smart uses a radar which is unaffected by any weather condition, be it rain, snow or ice and has also proven to be unaffected when covered in tar on a tar sprayer. The radar sensor is fitted to the back of the vehicle for reverse only auto brake but can be upgraded to feature on both rear and the front of the vehicle. The sensor constantly builds a picture of everything within its programmable range, like when air traffic control sees an aircraft in the skies. Any object detected by the radar is checked for distance and closing speed and based on this, the system informs the driver. There is an in-cab dash warning offering visual and audible alerts and if the object/person gets too close within the programmed danger zone, then the brakes are automatically applied for three seconds, without the driver intervention. This allows vital seconds for the driver to check cameras/mirrors to see if it is safe to carry on reversing or exit the cab to inspect the area.
This product is especially useful for refuse collection and cleaning vehicles, when manoeuvring around in tight pedestrian areas, working in and around schools, shopping centres and busy city streets, where people can dash out behind the vehicle thinking the driver has seen them. We have seen in our research that a driver cannot look at all the mirrors and monitors at the same time, so it’s easy to miss a person entering from the side and it only takes a small distraction or trip by that person, to find they’re now in the danger zone without the driver ever knowing.
All design and manufacturing are done in house with a team of highly skilled engineers putting together all parts of this E11 type approved product and the system can be programmed exactly to customer requirements.
Benefits of this product are:
- Autobrake is pulsed, so it’s not a sudden jolt and more of a controlled stop. Drivers prefer this and it does not damage the drive train, so no warranty issues.
- All software is written in-house, so it can be tailored to every installation to best suit vehicle application and customers wishes.
- The product is VCA approved and VCA audited to ensure conformity of production.
- The system uses a specially designed 77Ghz radar to optimise performance especially onsite operations.
