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02/28/2008
BENDIX LEADERS GO TO U.S. CAPITOL TO ADVOCATE FOR ADVANCED SAFETY TECHNOLOGIES FOR HEAVY-DUTY VEHICLES
Category: Trucking News
Posted by: techman
News Release
For more information, contact:
Barbara Gould or Carrie Kandes
Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC Marcus Thomas LLC
(440) 329-9609 (888) 482-4455
barbara.gould@bendix.com ckandes@marcusthomasllc.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BENDIX LEADERS GO TO U.S. CAPITOL TO ADVOCATE FOR
ADVANCED SAFETY TECHNOLOGIES FOR HEAVY-DUTY VEHICLES
Safety Experts Join Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance Panel in Support of H.R. 3820
ELYRIA, Ohio – February 28, 2007 – Two leaders from Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems were part of an industry panel that met with legislators and regulators on Capitol Hill this week to discuss the impact proposed legislation could have on the safety of America’s highways.
The panel was charged with advocating for the adoption of the Commercial Motor Vehicle Advanced Safety Technology Act of 2007 – also known as H.R. 3820. Introduced in October 2007, H.R. 3820 would provide a tax credit equal to 50 percent of the cost of a qualifying commercial vehicle safety system. The panel’s presentations and targeted meetings provided information about the importance of the safety technologies for which the act would provide incentives, including vehicle stability systems, collision warning systems, lane departure warning systems, and brake stroke monitoring systems.
Scott Burkhart, Bendix vice president of the controls and modules group, and Fred Andersky, Bendix marketing manager for electronics, were part of the panel, which was assembled by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA). A part of the Motor Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA), the Alliance selected leaders from key technology providers to represent the industry on the panel. The group met with members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure and Ways and Means committees, the Senate Commerce and Finance committees, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
“By offering meaningful tax incentives to fleets and heavy vehicle operators that implement active safety-enhancing technologies, H.R. 3820 could help ensure not only the safe operation of commercial vehicles, but also the safety of our nation’s roadways,” Burkhart said.
NHTSA statistics report that between 2001 and 2005, more than 25,000 fatalities resulted from crashes involving heavy-duty vehicles. In addition to injury and loss of life, these accidents can cause productivity-robbing traffic delays and lost time due to out-of-service vehicles. Bendix believes H.R. 3820 has the potential to significantly accelerate the implementation of safety technologies that can help prevent these incidents.
During the Capitol Hill meetings, Bendix experts highlighted the benefits of two safety technologies that could be covered by H.R. 3820: electronic stability control and adaptive cruise control.
Bendix has continuously supported the study and adoption of electronic stability control – also known as full-stability technology. Full-stability systems address both roll and directional stability and provide protection against rollovers on the widest variety of driving and road conditions, including wet, snowy and ice-covered surfaces. Just last year, NHTSA mandated full-stability technology for passenger vehicles made after 2009. The Bendix® ESP® Electronic Stability Program makes the same type of technology available today for commercial vehicles.
Adaptive cruise control (ACC) is a driver-assist technology that provides collision mitigation by enabling a vehicle to maintain a set following interval, based on time, between the truck and the lead vehicle. The Bendix ACC system uses throttle reduction, engine retarder, and brake intervention to help decelerate a vehicle and keep the intended following distance.
“No safety system can compensate for less-than-safe driving practices,” Andersky said. “But active safety technologies – such as Bendix ESP and Bendix ACC – were created to help good drivers avoid bad situations by intervening under dangerous and threatening conditions. H.R. 3820 could help make these technologies more affordable and accessible, ultimately contributing to safer highways. Bendix is committed to educating legislators and regulators about the importance of any legislation that could promote the adoption of these vital safety technologies.”
About Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, a member of the Knorr-Bremse Group, develops and supplies leading-edge active safety technologies, air brake charging, and control systems and components under the Bendix® brand name for medium- and heavy-duty trucks, tractors, trailers, buses, and other commercial vehicles throughout North America. An industry pioneer, employing more than 2,000 people, Bendix is driven to deliver solutions for improved vehicle performance, safety, and overall operating cost. Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems is headquartered in Elyria, Ohio, with manufacturing plants in Acuña, Mexico; Bowling Green, Ky.; and Huntington, Ind. For more information, call 1-800-AIR-BRAKE (1-800-247-2725) or visit www.bendix.com.
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