Mack Trucks, Inc. announced today that Bendix ABS-6 Advanced with ESP, an advanced vehicle stability system, is now available on its highway models.
“We’re committed to offering safe products,” said Tom Kelly, Mack vice president of marketing. “And this system provides motorists and truckers with a higher level of protection against the possibility of a rollover or jackknife.”
The system works by selectively applying the brakes on individual wheel ends, depending on driving conditions, vehicle speed and other inputs from onboard sensors. This assists the driver in reducing speed, keeping the vehicle in proper alignment, and reducing the possibility of a slide or jackknife. This stability function is known as yaw control. In addition to jackknife, yaw control is an advantage in situations involving over steer or under steer, and sudden transitions from dry to slippery surfaces.
The system also monitors inputs from sensors and applies all available brakes to rapidly reduce rollover potential when turning, including high friction conditions involving curves, sudden lane changes and obstacle avoidance maneuvers. Studies have shown that rollover contributes to more than half of truck driver accident fatalities.
Kelly also indicated that the company intends to soon offer Bendix ABS-6 Advanced with ESP on its vocational vehicles.
“We’re working very hard towards that end,” Kelly said. “It’s a challenging process, since straight trucks carry such a wide variety of loads with very different centers of gravity.”