In the late 1990s, ASA Electronics was approached by one of our fleet customers following a fatal truck accident to help them develop a product that would prevent future accidents. The customer reviewed and tested three different safety options and ultimately decided to implement Voyager video technology on their vehicles. In the first year, this customer saw a 44% reduction in backing accidents. That was well over a decade before back-up cameras were federally mandated on passenger vehicles.
ASA Electronics has made a habit of predicting and leading technology trends with our Voyager observation and safety systems. Our newest development is no different. The Voyager All-In-One System uses automotive CAN-bus protocols to link various vehicle systems in order to deliver all the notifications and alerts to one display. This technology will increase driver attention and give them more tools to prevent common accidents.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) conducted a study to determine the causes of accidents between large trucks and passenger vehicles. The study examined the “Critical Reason,” or the general reason for the accident, and the “Associated Factors,” or specific possible explanations for why the accident happened. According to the report, driver decision and driver recognition accounted for a combined 77% of Critical Reason rulings in accidents where the truck was at fault. In driver decision crashes the most common Associated Factors were speed, tailgating, and misjudging the behavior of other drivers. In driver recognition crashes, inadequate surveillance, driver inattention, and distraction were the leading factors.
The Voyager All-In-One incorporates tools to address all of these areas of concern. One of the biggest benefits of having all system notifications routed through one display is the reduction in in-cab distractions for the driver. With all alerts easily readable on one screen, drivers can keep their attention on the road where it is needed most. The system also acts as a monitor for camera systems, increasing surveillance and visibility. The All-In-One features a built-in Digital Video Recorder to capture this incident footage for review. The DVR can also be programmed to deliver alerts on a variety of custom parameters, like exceeding a certain speed limit or hard braking.
Voyager has already developed systems for blind spot awareness and proximity detection, which will both connect to the All-In-One system. The proximity sensors can be installed on the front of the vehicle and programed to deliver audible and visual alerts if the truck gets too close to the vehicle in front. The blind spot detection system also offers Rear Cross Traffic Alerts and lane change assistance which can help prevent accidents caused by misjudging what another driver will do, such as passing on the wrong side or changing lanes without signaling.
Trucks and drivers are the two most important assets of a fleet, so we have focused on developing technologies that provide extra protection to both. By equipping your fleet with a custom safety system, you can reduce the number of crashes, reduce the hours of maintenance down time, and reduce the cost of insurance claims. To learn more about out latest developments, you can review our exclusive Fleet Equipment webinar, “Protecting Your Drivers and Equipment: Better Safety Systems Save the Day.”
This article was sponsored by ASA Electronics. For more information, please visit our website at www.asaelectronics.com.
