Collision Avoidance System

Managing a fleet is a tiresome and stressful job. You have to take all possible measures to ensure safety, operational efficiency, and maximizing profits. While you can take the help of telematics, still there is room for improvement.

Life on the road is full of unpredictable incidents, and a small mistake can prove deadly. There are high chances that- a car suddenly stops in front of you, an animal passes by, and they are distracted. What will the driver do at that moment? 

It is where a collision-avoidance system can help you. In this article, we will talk about collision avoidance systems in depth. So let’s get started. 

What is a Collision Avoidance System? 

First of all, let us understand what a collision-avoidance system is. 

The collision avoidance system is an advanced driver assistance system, which aims to avoid a collision or reduce its severity. There are different types of collision avoidance systems in the market. These systems use various technologies and services to perform their job.

For instance, they employ radars, lasers, cameras, and sensors according to their function. If any danger is detected, the system sends a warning to the driver or overrides the vehicle. 

But how to choose a collision-avoidance system that works for you? Let us navigate through the features and functionalities of a collision-avoidance system to understand your needs better. 

Types of Collision Avoidance System and Their Functionality

Collision avoidance systems differ based on their functionality and technology, such as radars, sensors, and stereoscopic cameras. Here we will talk about them one by one. 

1. Forward Collision-Avoidance System

The Forward Collision-Avoidance system saves the drivers from crashing into any object or the vehicle in front of them. 

Let us see how it works:

The forward collision avoidance system comes equipped either with a radar system pointing forward, or a laser system, or a combination of both. The main essence of the forward collision avoidance system is that it continuously calculates the distance between you and the vehicle in front of you. 

As soon as the control unit detects dangerous proximity that could potentially lead to a collision, the system

• sends an alert via sound or light to the driver, or
• pull the brakes for you. 

Although ingenuine, the system had a major flaw. When a vehicle stops abruptly to avoid crashing into something in front of it, it could collide with the car or truck at the back. Therefore, CAS service providers upgraded the system with a reverse collision warning. The advanced system can now calculate the speed at which the vehicle must go or stop to avoid a collision in the front and back. 

2. Lane Departure Warning System

The other type of collision avoidance system is the lane departure warning system. The primary function of this system is to help the drivers to avoid straying from their lane. 

How does it work?

The lane departure warning system has a stereoscopic camera on the windscreen of the vehicle facing forward. This camera continuously analyses the condition in front of you and reads one of the painted lines on the road. 

It detects that a vehicle is starting from its lane, the system intervenes in either of the two ways: 

• It either sends you a warning via sound or light. It helps you: change the lane and avoid any possible collision with the vehicle. 
• Or, in the advanced system, it either pulls the brakes of the inner wheel that will haul the vehicle back into its lane. If you have an electric steering wheel system, it will physically turn the steering wheel. And hence cause you to bring the vehicle back to its lane. 

3. Bling Spot Assist System

The blindspot assist system makes up for your inability to see the vehicle coming into your blind spot. The system has a radar either under the wing mirror or on the rear bumper. 

So, how does it work?

When a vehicle comes into your blind spot, and we try to maneuver across a lane the blind spot and coming in front of that vehicle, the blind spot assist system assists in two ways:

• It sends you an alert via sound or light, giving you time to change your lane.
• Or, similar to the lane departure warning system, it either pulls the brake of the inner wheel or turns the steering wheel. 

4. Traffic Rules Recognition System

Traffic rules recognition system helps the drivers to avoid traffic fines in their way. The system has a stereoscopic camera in front of the windscreen that constantly reads the traffic signs on the pathway. 

How does it work?

Suppose the sign on the road requires you to drive under the speed limit of 25mph, and you are moving at 40mph. The control unit will read the traffic sign. It will either send you: a warning to slow down or automatically pull the brakes slowly to reduce the speed. 

5. Pedestrian Detection System

The Pedestrian Detection system helps you to avoid any possible collision with pedestrians or cyclists. Pedestrians and cyclists are the most vulnerable targets for vehicles and account for nearly a quarter of road fatalities. This system has a sensor to detect human movement on the road.

If a person or a cyclist comes closer to your vehicle, the system either sends you an alert or pulls the brakes to avoid any impact. 

Features of the Collision Avoidance System

Features of the collision avoidance systems are as follows:

1. Adaptive Cruise Control

Adaptive cruise control uses radars, lasers, or a combination of both to manage the vehicle’s speed and maintain a safe distance between you and the truck in front of you. 

2. Automatic Emergency Braking

When the system detects that the vehicle has come too close and the collision is unavoidable, the system pulls the brakes for the driver

3. Rear Automatic Emergency Braking

It is the opposite of the automatic emergency braking system. The system uses radars or lasers to detect any object or vehicle behind you. When you come too close, it affects the brakes of your truck to avoid a collision. 

4. Electronic Stability Control

Electronic stability control is an extension of the vehicle’s anti-lock braking system. Suppose your truck loses traction on the road and you are drifting on the road. The ESC system will use the onboard computer and manage the brakes and steering of your vehicle. 

5. Parking Assist

Parking assists collect feedback from cameras and sensors on your vehicle to assist in parking the same safely. 

6. Adaptive Headlights

Adaptive headlights illuminate the headlights of your vehicle as you turn the steering wheel. This system is helpful at night or on foggy days. 

7. Drowsiness Detection

This type of system detects your steering behavior and calculates if you are dozing off behind the wheel. Some advanced technologies may also track your eye movement in your position to spot your drowsiness. If the system detects that you are feeling groggy, it will send you a warning alert. 

Benefits of the Collision Avoidance System for Fleet

Business owners and fleet managers should invest in collision avoidance technology as it helps them to stay safe and cut down any worse driving behavior. With the help of a collision-avoidance system, fleet managers can reduce or avoid any compensation or liability. 

The collision avoidance system avoids any potential threat and reduces collision. Fewer collisions imply few repairs, few liabilities, few insurance claims, less fuel consumption, and longevity of the fleet. 

If you employ any collision avoidance system, you can prevent or reduce any threat on the road. The collision avoidance system will help you to avoid accidents altogether. But if the impact is inevitable, that at least lowers the damages for you.  

According to the IIHS ( Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) studies:

• Forward collision avoidance system reduced 27% of front or rear crashes.
• The Blindspot warning and Lane Departure system brought down lane-change crash incidents by 14%.
• Traffic rules recognition system reduced 22% of crashes.
• Pedestrian detection system helped minimize pedestrian-related insurance claims by 35%.

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Final Words

To sum it up, we can conclude that the development of collision avoidance systems is still on its path. With technological advancements, it will become more precise and effective. It’s your call to employ a collision-avoidance system, but if you will, your fleet would gain benefit from it. It can help you to reduce risks, and liabilities and monitor the driving behavior of the drivers.