Shell Chemicals said it has developed an early “Rollover Warning Device” (RWD) to alert drivers to the risk of rollovers, in collaboration with automotive components manufacturer Bertocco and engineering company Studio Merli. The RWD is now available to transport fleet operators around the world, following successful trials in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
According to Shell, the most common cause of a rollover is the driver misjudging his or her vehicle’s rollover threshold when negotiating a bend or roundabout. The RWD provides an early visual warning and audio alarm when the vehicle is approaching its rollover threshold, enabling the driver to take immediate corrective action. In 2010 the RWD was recognized for its valuable contribution to safety, and Shell and Bertocco were awarded an EuroTra Safety and Innovation Award by the Freight Transport Association.
Jack Eggels, Shell’s general manager for global land logistics, said, “We took the initiative to collaborate with our business partners to develop the RWD because we want to do all we can to reduce the risk of road tanker rollover. We did not do this just for ourselves, but also to help customers and other transport operators across the globe make roads safer. Safety is a top priority for Shell and we recognize it has a direct impact on our customer service. We want our drivers to deliver products safely and return home to their loved ones.”
Shell said it is promoting the RWD with its contractors and encouraging them to adopt the device for their fleets. Tristar Transportation, a transport operator working with Shell and other companies across Africa, the Middle East and Asia, is fitting the device into its Shell-contracted vehicles in the United Arab Emirates and Oman, and plans to extend it to its wider fleet.
The RWD is now available for fleet operators to order through Bertocco. The device can be fitted within hours on road tankers of any type, shape, configuration or age.
