Collision Avoidance System  

For most truckers, another day on the highway is just another day on the job; and driving—even in hazardous conditions—is a piece of cake. But even the best drivers and most professional truck drivers can have an accident. For drivers in Freightliner trucks, however, technology is making the chances of those accidents more rare.  

While Freightliner’s new truck models are equipped with standard safety equipment and sturdy parts, they also come outfitted with a new innovation—the OnGuard Collision Safety System. The system, which is radar-based and was designed by Meritor-Wabco, causes the truck to slow down when it exceeds a certain following distance.  

Because truckers can easily become tired or distracted, it is relatively easy to unwittingly tailgate, a situation which can cause an accident should the vehicle in front of the truck suddenly break. The OnGuard Collision system helps decrease the number of these accidents by sensing objects up to 500 feet away through radar technology. The system then sends a signal to the engine, transmission, and break system in order to slow down the vehicle. To notify the driver, the system also emits an alarm in the cab.  The system can only be used when a vehicle is operated using cruise control.  

Available on the Cascadia and Century Class fleets, the alarm system has already been installed on more than 500 trucks, and plans include fitting the system to at least 400 more. In the future, the system’s designer hopes to offer it with more features and for more trucks. In fact, the company hopes to offer a model that can be used when a driver is not using cruise control.  

For truckers considering a new truck purchase, the new technology makes even more attractive the Freightliner models, which already offer state-of-the-art components to make the trucks superior models in both longevity and safe performance.  In fact, some of the trucks’ featured characteristics include quieter cabs and more powerful engines. Perfect combinations of power and safety, the trucks are tempting purchases for many truckers.  

But for truckers who want a little increased safety without the price and hassle of a new truck, tailgate detection systems that can be mounted on a variety of vehicles exist. For example, Kouba makes a tailgating detection system that uses directional sensors. 

Whether you want to buy a new Freightliner outfitted with the system or just pick up a stand alone tailgating detection system, newly developed technologies that emit alarms and slow down vehicles when a following distance is compromised are contributors to highway safety. In addition to backing up cameras, intensive LED lights, and even security systems, the new technology continues to make the world of trucking even safer for every professional.