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March 5, 2010
Technology
Safer Fleets
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Some vehicles, like this S-Class Mercedes, see in the dark
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Today’s vehicles come with an array of new technologies fleet managers should consider with driver safety in mind. Volvo’s Driver Alert Control system knows when the driver is too drowsy to drive.
Henry Ford would have loved to be alive today to see how far automobiles have advanced since he first drove a Model-T off the assembly line. While today’s cars, trucks, SUVs, and crossovers resemble the vehicles our forefathers enjoyed 100 years ago, advances in technology have allowed us to build vehicles with abilities that dwarf anything our grandparents could have imagined possible.
Today, you can drive a vehicle that will brake on its own and come to a complete stop before hitting an obstacle without driver input, see at night and let you know what lurks in the darkness beyond the reach of your headlights, alert you when you’re about to wander out of your lane, and so much more.
As a fleet manager you might want to add vehicles with some of the newest and most practical technologies available today to your fleet. If your goal is to provide your employees with the safest possible driving experience, then these advanced technologies (available from a number of manufacturers) might be worth a closer look.
No more blind spots
Checking over your shoulder to see what’s in your blind spot before changing lanes is so 2007. Today, a number of manufacturers offer vehicles with warning systems that will tell you whether there’s a vehicle in your blind spot long before you think of changing lanes (although we still recommend the shoulder check for added safety).
Heads up!
Although not an absolute must, a headsup display, like the ones used by fighter pilots, allows the driver to stay focused on the road without having to glance down at the speedometer to check his or her speed. Some systems also display radio station information, outside temperature data, and emergency warning icons such as “Low Fuel.”
Beyond cruise control
Today’s smart cruise control systems come with a built-in radar system that constantly monitors the road ahead. Some manufacturers call this technology Adaptive Cruise, Active Cruise, or some other proprietary name, but it all basically works on the same principle.
This technology allows the driver to program the cruise control to do two things: maintain a set speed, and maintain a set distance from the vehicle in front. If the vehicle in front happens to brake suddenly or slow down for some other reason, this new cruise control technology will slow down your car accordingly in order to maintain the set distance programmed into it. So even though you might not be paying attention to the road ahead, your cruise control is and it’s responding accordingly to keep you safe.
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Volvo’s Driver Alert Control system knows when the driver is too drowsy to drive.
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Coffee break
Drivers no longer need a backseat driver along for the ride to tell them when to stop for a break. New technologies monitor the driver’s behaviour and alert everyone on board—including the backseat driver—to the fact that the driver needs a break.
An audible alarm sounds a warning, and a coffee cup icon appears on the dash reminding the driver to pull over when possible for a coffee break or a nap. | |
Jack Kazmierski