SAFETY S
Page 38
Page 39
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
France has a population similar in size to the UK's, spread over more than twice the area. But despite the extra space, two and a half times as many people are killed on French roads. Some 5% of French accidents involve trucks and coaches, but these accidents result in around 13.5% of the fatalities.
Since 1980, the European Centre for Studying Safety and Analysing Risks (CEESAR) at Amiens has been attending traffic accidents involving trucks to gather data. The data covers 670 parameters for each occupant of vehicles involved. The parameters indude vehicle, occupant and environmental factors.
Renault's involvement in the scheme has culminated in a vehicle that incorporates many of the lessons learnt from CEE SAR's research. The High Security Vehicle (VHS), based on a Magnum, contains the latest high technology products from around 20 specialist suppliers. Many of these are in or close to production but a few are rather further away.
Renault VI has unveiled its state-ofthe-art safety concept
truck. Flprnpil braved the snow and strikes of Lyon to get the details.
TYRES
Spray suppression
Many car drivers will have experienced the discomfort of driving through a wall of spray on a motorway, probably the nearest most people will come to playing Russian roulette. Compulsory spray suppression has helped but now Michelin has developed a range of tyres specifically to address the problem of spray and splash.
Its answer is to incorporate a prominent bead on the tyre's shoulder, similar to the anti-kerbing buffers fitted to some smaller tyres. Michelin's test track data shows that the tyres and the full spray suppression equipment fitted to the VHS can reduce spray height from 1,500mm to as little as 3110mm.
HO grit f3y the use of a new rubbe7 compound, together with careful tread design including sipes designed to last the life of the tyre, Michelin's High Grip Tyre increases wet grip while retaining acceptable wear and rolling resistance characteristics. It claims a 35% reduction in wet stopping distances compared with its current production tyres.
Tyre pressure monitoring
Michelin has joined forces with Wabco and SchraderBridgeport to develop a system to carry out automatic start of day tyre pressure checking, As well as the obvious benefits in avoiding catastrophic tyre failure, correct pressures will also increase the rate of acceptability of used covers for remoulding. Lighting The Fruehauf trailer is fitted with full reflective perimeter marking of the sides and rear. Wherever possible, LED light units are fitted. The five-function lower rear light arrays are fully duplicated, and three-function arrays are also fined at roof level. At the front of the vehicles, the headlights are of the discharge type.
Rfth wheel oconAing alarm Holland-Eurohitch's Electronic Lock Indicator uses a dedicated dash display to confirm that coupling has been successfully achieved, and is intended to complement the normal routine hitch test.
Suzie connecting With tractor to trailer clearances being kept as close as possible in the interests of economy, the danger and inconvenience of physically entering that space is increased. General Trailers' answer on the Fruehauf safety trailer is an air-operated swing-down suzie boom, which allows connection from ground level.
ELECTRONIC STABILITY
Vehicle dynamic stahiRtiir
The basic principle of VDS is to harmonise all the electronic systems already fitted to many modern trucks to provide the maximum stability under various driving conditions. Additional sensors measure steering and roil angles and lateral acceleration rates to continuously monitor the truck's behaviour. In the event of any abnormal behaviour, such as impending jack-knife or trailer rollover, the computer will use its control over engine torque, trailer braking and individual wheel brakes to counter the incident before it has time to develop into loss of control.
Electronically Controled Air Suspension (ECAS) Wabco's ECAS system extends the versatility of current tractive unit air suspension control to the trailer. The system can remember various operating conditions, such as loading or travelling, and adjust the suspension accordingly. A locking facility keeps the trailer level during loading and unloading operations and a back-up battery allows the system to work while the trailer is uncoupled. laatilIECI Rear vknv
The main cab mirrors are of the forward-mounted type as fitted to modem luxury coaches, while additional rear and side vision is provided by video cameras. A pair of cameras is fitted to the front top corners of the trailer, while a separate system is fitted above the trailer door to assist with docking. Eyes front
To ensure maximum forward visibility, the windscreen is double glazed with an integral de-icing facility. The screen is cleared by a water sensing auto-wipe system, already a standard fitting on a number of passenger cars. Adaptive Cruise Cooing (ACC)
ACC uses a grille-mounted sensor to detect the presence of vehicles in front, and orders the engine management computer to reduce speed until a safe distance is attained.
Passive safety Airbags and three-point seatbeits with pre-tensioners are fitted, and will become standard on all Renault models over the next year or so. But Renault's boffins make the point that the 12% of truck occupants killed by being thrown from their cabs would be saved if existing belts were fully used.
When an accident does happen, the on-board systems can automatically alert the emergency services with the vehicle's location, and record the circumstances leading up to the incident.
Comfort Fully adjustable Recaro seats are fitted, complete with a built-in boom microphone for handsfree mobile phone installation. If the seat proves too comfortable for the driver, a blink monitoring fatigue detection device will prevent the driver falling asleep at the wheel.
Cab access To encourage drivers to make the most of the walk-through capability of the Magnum to enter via the kerb side, Renault has devised a fold away step system, complete with hand-rail, to provide safe and easy access to the cab.
Loading
The roller shutter door is air-operated, with the controls in a side locker at the rear, which also houses the controls for the trailer's air suspension. Fruehauf's existing pull-out ladder is used to permit a safe climb to the load space.
Front Under-run Protection System (FUPS)
A considerable number of French road deaths are due to cars driving underneath the front of oncoming trucks. Renault's answer comes in two parts, the first being a semi-collapsible FUPS. This meets the standard expected to be required by Europe from October 2003 and would save 90 lives a year in France alone.
The second stage, likely to be available by 2005, is an energy-absorbing FUPS, which adds a large aluminium honeycomb box section to the front of the under-run bar. Renault's tests have shown that a head-on collision with a Renault Megane at a combined impact speed of 65krn/h would leave the oar's occupant without significant injury, and could yield an annual saving of 200 lives. The major drawback of this system at present is the extra length of up to 500mm, which would need a derogation from dimensions regulations to be acceptable by operators.
Back end sides The trailer's rear under-run bar is lowered to within 400mm of the ground to reduce the severity of rear impacts, while fully faired-in wheel arches combine with the compulsory guards to enhance side protection.
Electrordc Brake System Wabco's current production EBS is fitted to the SMB all-disc
braking system. By having full air pressure delivered as closely
as possible to the brake units and activated electronically,
response times are greatly reduced. Braking force can also be
distributed on a wheel-by-wheel basis as required.
Carbon disc retarder
As a spin-off from its activities on Formula 1 racing cars and
Airbus and Boeing aircraft, Messier-Bugatti has been working to develop carbon disc brakes for commercial vehicles. While the use of this technology for wheel brakes is still a considerable
ay off, the principle will be available shorty as a drive-line
retarder.
Although there are still some heat dissipation issues, the carbon-carbon retarder,
controlled by EBS, promises to provide highly efficient secondary retardation together with the ability to handle full emergency braking if needed.