This extract came onto my desktop. Recalling that some on the list were
concerned about ESP and Brake Enhancement Systems. What will happen when all
of this works and all our LBCs are banned for lack of technology? Eat yer
heart out Ralph Nader!
'CARS THAT CAN'T CRASH' UNVEILED BY THATCHAM
Fictional notion is about to become reality thanks to new technologies being
fitted to vehicles driven in Britain - that in time could save more than
125,000 injuries each year. The systems mitigate and in some cases prevent
low speed shunts and collisions - the most common type of accident that makes
up no less than 75 percent of all motor accidents.
Thatcham's - the not for profit organisation which strives to make vehicles
safer - Matthew Avery, Crash Research Manager, said: "They will make a major
impact on the number of slow speed accidents - in Britain and across the
World. Thatcham believes that if manufacturers embrace the new systems and
fit them as standard - more than 125,000 injuries will be prevented each year
in Britain alone. It will take a number of years before enough cars in the UK
'car park' are fitted with the technology - but once a threshold is reached
injury figures will tumble. Most accidents involve two or more vehicles - so
every car fitted with the kit can save damage and injury to multiples of
others."
Thatcham has been evaluating three different systems:
The Volvo City Safety - which will be fitted as standard to their XC60 which
will be on sale from November.
The system is active at up to 20 mph. It uses a form of laser radar (LIDAR)
mounted in top of the windscreen. It is programmed to respond if the vehicle
in front is either at a standstill or is moving in the same direction as the
car itself. The brakes are pre-charged and should a collision be imminent it
applies them and cuts the throttle. If the car is travelling below 10mph it
should prevent the collision entirely and at a speed of up to 20 mph will
reduce the impact by 50%.
The Mercedes Distronic Plus is currently available on some S-class models. It
uses two radar systems linked to the car's cruise control system to maintain a
safe distance between you and the car in front. It provides a continual
calculation of the distance between the vehicle in front and the speed
differential between them and will bring the car to a complete stop if
necessary.
The Honda CMBS currently on the CR-V is a radar system that again calculates
the distance and the speed differential with the vehicle in front. Should this
become out of kilter the driver receives visual and audible warnings before
brakes are progressively activated. Seat belts are also tightened to alert the
driver of an impending problem and lessen any resulting injuries.
Commenting on Thatcham test results Matthew Avery said:
"All three systems offer enhanced protection - the Volvo in particular
impressed because of its autonomous operation and the fact that it intervened
at the last second and can completely avoid a crash. It is imperative that
driver vigilance is not lowered by the inclusion of such systems in their
vehicles. These systems should not allow the driver to compensate - and take
additional risks. The car is not the driver - the driver drives the car.
This is just the beginning of the collision avoidance revolution. We will see
systems that can detect pedestrians and other vulnerable road users and even
steer the car to avoid a crash."
_______________________________________________
Support Team.Net http://www.team.net/donate.html
http://www.team.net/archive
http://autox.team.net/mailman/listinfo/spridgets
|