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 announcedRoll Advisor & Control -- an innovative truck safety featuredesigned to help prevent damaging rollover accidents. Availablein late 2000, Roll Advisor & Control will be standard equipmenton 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 safetyand continues to introduce new technologies that actively preventvehicle accidents," said Gary Rossow, Director of GovernmentTechnical Affairs for Freightliner Corporation. "Roll Advisor &Control builds on the proven safety benefits of anti-lock brakeswith new capabilities that address the problem of truckrollover." The Freightliner Roll Advisor & Control system is intended tohead off rollover crashes by alerting the truck driver topotentially dangerous driving behaviors and/or automaticallyslowing the vehicle to help prevent rollover. The new system has two integrated components: Roll StabilityAdvisor and Roll Stability Control. Both utilize sensorsintegrated into the truck's anti-lock brake system: By trackingthe truck's lateral acceleration and wheel speed, the systemdetects the potential for rollover. Roll Stability Advisor is a training aid designed to advisethe driver that he or she has operated the vehicle in nearrollover conditions. Warnings are communicated via theFreightliner Driver Message Center, an easy-to-read displaylocated in the dash, directly in front of the driver. Roll Stability Advisor communicates messages with increasedurgency as the potential for rollover increases. The first levelof alert is a message that reads "Risky Maneuver Detected." The second level of alert involves an alternating message thatreads "Rollover Risk Detected" with a recommended slower speed.This message will continue to be displayed until the driverpushes a button to acknowledge it. The third level of alert involves an alternating message thatflashes "High Risk of Rollover Detected" with a recommendedslower speed. At this highest level, a tone also sounds to signalthat a high rollover risk event has occurred. "Oftentimes, drivers do not know that they are on the verge ofa rollover," Rossow said. "We believe Roll Stability Advisorwill, over time, teach drivers safer operation of the vehicle." Rossow added that instances of Roll Stability Advisor warningscan be recorded in Freightliner's data logging unit, anelectronic memory device that records data on truck and componentperformance. Fleet managers can download information on rolloverwarnings and, if necessary, coach drivers on safer drivingtechniques. The Roll Stability Control function takes rollover preventionto the next level by automatically slowing the vehicle. Whensensor data indicate that a rollover is imminent, Roll StabilityControl sends a signal to the engine's electronic control unit toreduce engine power and apply the engine brake. This slows thetruck and reduces the forces pushing the vehicle toward rollover.When the vehicle becomes stable, power is restored and the enginebrake is turned off. "Roll Stability Control demonstrates the benefits ofintegrated, electronically-controlled truck components," Rossowsaid. "In this system, the anti-lock braking system and enginework together to dynamically control the vehicle. Freightlinerwill continue to explore and offer systems that use integratedtechnologies to increase vehicle safety." Rossow called the system a logical extension of anti-lockbrakes. "Anti- lock brakes have been proven to improve vehiclecontrol. Roll Advisor & Control expands and enhances the safetyrevolution of anti-lock braking." Anti-lock brakes became required equipment on heavy-dutytractors in 1997 and trucks in 1998. Freightliner made anti-lockbrakes standard on its Class 8 trucks in 1995, well ahead of thefederal mandate. "Freightliner was the first heavy truck manufacturer to makeABS standard and we are the first to unveil Roll Advisor &Control, the next step in vehicle safety and control," Rossowsaid. Freightliner plans to make Roll Advisor & Control functionsavailable on all Freightliner Corporation air-braked vehicles,Rossow added. The system was developed in conjunction withMeritor WABCO. Roll Advisor & Control joins a host of active safety systemsoffered by Freightliner Corporation, including Lane Guidance,which warns the driver when the truck is drifting outside itslane and the Eaton Vorad EVT-300 collision warning system, whichalerts 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 maintenancerequirements and reduces stopping distances, especially whencombined with disc brakes. And on September 9 of this year, Freightliner unveiled theCentury Class S/T, a Class 8 truck that incorporates a multitudeof standard safety features including an automated-shiftingtransmission, 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 theFreightliner, Sterling, American LaFrance and Thomas Built Busesnameplates and is a DaimlerChrysler company, the world's leadingcommercial vehicle manufacturer. On the Internet Visit the Freightliner Corporation Web Site atwww.freightliner.com for additional Freightliner news. otsOriginal Text Service: Freightliner Corporation Internet:http://www.newsaktuell.de Contact: Chris Brandt of FreightlinerCorporation, 503-735-5471, or fax, 503-735-5775, orchrisbrandt@freightliner.com Web site:http://www.freightliner.com

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