MAN has revealed that it will soon fit electronic stability programme (ESP) technology to all chassis-type vehicles delivered to the Middle East.
ESP uses dynamic monitoring and electronically activated braking to minimise the risk of rollover.
The German truck and bus manufacturer already has its first ESP-fitted models on order, and plans to roll out the technology across the region before the end of 2014.
“ESP constantly monitors the dynamic status of a vehicle, checking it for roll, yaw, and pitch,” explained Dr Richard Brown, MAN Truck & Bus Group’s head of product management in the Middle East region.
“In turn, the system automatically applies the vehicle’s brakes on one side of the vehicle, the rear of the vehicle, even on one wheel – whichever action is most appropriate. As long as the driver hasn’t driven off the side of the road, and tipped the truck beyond its centre of gravity, ESP will help to prevent rollovers from occurring,” he added.
ESP standardisation in the Middle East forms part of MAN’s broader strategy to improve on-road safety in the region. To this end, MAN also intends to test its lane guard system (LGS) on GCC roads during the coming 12 months.
“LGS warns drivers when they are about to depart from a lane without using their indicator,” explained Brown.
“We know that LGS works perfectly in Europe, but we’re not 100% certain that it will work perfectly in the Middle East. We don’t yet know whether the lane markings on local roads are sufficiently luminescent. If the onboard camera cannot identify the lane markings, the system will not operate as it should.
“LGS needs to be tested thoroughly before we introduce it to the region. It also needs to be trialled in more than one country because the road markings in Qatar, for example, are different from those in Oman. With this in mind, we intend to bring some vehicles fitted with LGS – or since the technology can be retrofitted, perhaps just the systems themselves – to this region for testing,” he told PMV.
In addition to ESP and LGS, MAN also plans to promote its automated gearbox system in the Middle East, which aids safety by negating the need for drivers to take their hands away from the steering wheel.
“This isn’t an automatic gearbox,” said Brown. “It’s a manual gearbox that’s electronically controlled. The driver doesn’t have to remove his hands from the steering wheel in order to change gear, which improves safety. Because the driver doesn’t get distracted, he is able to concentrate fully on the road ahead.”
To read our comprehensive safety roundtable, including representatives from MAN, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and Trimble, check out the July 2014 issue of PMV Middle East.
