The internationally recognized technology and safety benefits of antilock braking systems (ABS) were highlighted recently at the 2006 Commercial Vehicle Safety and Technology Conference in Beijing, People's Republic of China. The event, in support of China's recently mandated ABS regulations for commercial vehicles, featured technical seminars and test track demonstrations co-organized by the China Automotive Technology & Research Center (CATARC) and WABCO.
This conference was the first event at a national level dedicated to commercial vehicle safety and technology. Its goal was to increase awareness of ABS benefits among manufacturers and industry organizations, and to help facilitate the mandatory installation of ABS on commercial vehicles in order to improve road safety nationwide. After the conference, WABCO provided ABS demonstrations at the Ministry of Communication (MOC) test track facility in Beijing.
Chinese government officials and experts from CATARC, the National Develop & Reform Commission (NDRC), the MOC, and the Ministry of Public Security (MOPS) discussed recent industry developments and trends related to road safety, commercial vehicle regulations, technological innovations, and vehicle performance improvements made by commercial vehicle producers. The event drew more than 200 government representatives, trade association officials, and industry participants.
WABCO's ABS demonstration for the conference participants at the test track included truck-trailers and buses driving with and without ABS. Both groups demonstrated emergency braking maneuvers on a range of road surfaces representing typical vehicle driving conditions — normal, wet, dry, icy, and combination surfaces. The maneuvers visibly demonstrated how vehicles equipped with ABS require significantly shorter stopping distances as ABS prevents wheels from locking in a skid, which also enables drivers to maintain better vehicle control when braking.