Freightliner Unveils Technology That Guards Against Truck Rollover / Roll Advisor & Control System Warns Drivers, Automatically Slows Vehicle To Help Prevent Ro

ORLANDO, Fla. (PROTETX) - Freightliner Corporation announced Roll Advisor & Control -- an innovative truck safety feature designed to help prevent damaging rollover accidents. Available in late 2000, Roll Advisor & Control will be standard equipment on Freightliner's new Century Class S/T (safety/technology) heavy-duty truck. Freightliner is North America's largest heavy- duty truck manufacturer and is a leading manufacturer of Class 4- 8 trucks. "Freightliner is deeply committed to increasing highway safety and continues to introduce new technologies that actively prevent vehicle accidents," said Gary Rossow, Director of Government Technical Affairs for Freightliner Corporation. "Roll Advisor & Control builds on the proven safety benefits of anti-lock brakes with new capabilities that address the problem of truck rollover." The Freightliner Roll Advisor & Control system is intended to head off rollover crashes by alerting the truck driver to potentially dangerous driving behaviors and/or automatically slowing the vehicle to help prevent rollover. The new system has two integrated components: Roll Stability Advisor and Roll Stability Control. Both utilize sensors integrated into the truck's anti-lock brake system: By tracking the truck's lateral acceleration and wheel speed, the system detects the potential for rollover. Roll Stability Advisor is a training aid designed to advise the driver that he or she has operated the vehicle in near rollover conditions. Warnings are communicated via the Freightliner Driver Message Center, an easy-to-read display located in the dash, directly in front of the driver. Roll Stability Advisor communicates messages with increased urgency as the potential for rollover increases. The first level of alert is a message that reads "Risky Maneuver Detected." The second level of alert involves an alternating message that reads "Rollover Risk Detected" with a recommended slower speed. This message will continue to be displayed until the driver pushes a button to acknowledge it. The third level of alert involves an alternating message that flashes "High Risk of Rollover Detected" with a recommended slower speed. At this highest level, a tone also sounds to signal that a high rollover risk event has occurred. "Oftentimes, drivers do not know that they are on the verge of a rollover," Rossow said. "We believe Roll Stability Advisor will, over time, teach drivers safer operation of the vehicle." Rossow added that instances of Roll Stability Advisor warnings can be recorded in Freightliner's data logging unit, an electronic memory device that records data on truck and component performance. Fleet managers can download information on rollover warnings and, if necessary, coach drivers on safer driving techniques. The Roll Stability Control function takes rollover prevention to the next level by automatically slowing the vehicle. When sensor data indicate that a rollover is imminent, Roll Stability Control sends a signal to the engine's electronic control unit to reduce engine power and apply the engine brake. This slows the truck and reduces the forces pushing the vehicle toward rollover. When the vehicle becomes stable, power is restored and the engine brake is turned off. "Roll Stability Control demonstrates the benefits of integrated, electronically-controlled truck components," Rossow said. "In this system, the anti-lock braking system and engine work together to dynamically control the vehicle. Freightliner will continue to explore and offer systems that use integrated technologies to increase vehicle safety." Rossow called the system a logical extension of anti-lock brakes. "Anti- lock brakes have been proven to improve vehicle control. Roll Advisor & Control expands and enhances the safety revolution of anti-lock braking." Anti-lock brakes became required equipment on heavy-duty tractors in 1997 and trucks in 1998. Freightliner made anti-lock brakes standard on its Class 8 trucks in 1995, well ahead of the federal mandate. "Freightliner was the first heavy truck manufacturer to make ABS standard and we are the first to unveil Roll Advisor & Control, the next step in vehicle safety and control," Rossow said. Freightliner plans to make Roll Advisor & Control functions available on all Freightliner Corporation air-braked vehicles, Rossow added. The system was developed in conjunction with Meritor WABCO. Roll Advisor & Control joins a host of active safety systems offered by Freightliner Corporation, including Lane Guidance, which warns the driver when the truck is drifting outside its lane and the Eaton Vorad EVT-300 collision warning system, which alerts drivers to objects to the front and side of the truck. Freightliner also offers an advanced electronic braking system (EBS). EBS improves braking control, reduces brake maintenance requirements and reduces stopping distances, especially when combined with disc brakes. And on September 9 of this year, Freightliner unveiled the Century Class S/T, a Class 8 truck that incorporates a multitude of standard safety features including an automated-shifting transmission, on-board data recording unit and driver's air bag. 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. On the Internet Visit the Freightliner Corporation Web Site at www.freightliner.com for additional Freightliner news. ots Original Text Service: Freightliner Corporation Internet: http://www.newsaktuell.de Contact: Chris Brandt of Freightliner Corporation, 503-735-5471, or fax, 503-735-5775, or chrisbrandt@freightliner.com Web site: http://www.freightliner.com Subscribers please note that material bearing the slug "PROTEXT" is not part of CTK's news service and is not to be published under the "CTK" slug. Protext is a commercial service providing distribution of press releases from clients, who are identified in the text of Protext reports and who bear full responsibility for their contents. PROTEXT