Meritor WABCO announced its support of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) final rule issued on June 3 requiring electronic stability control (ESC) systems on truck tractors and large buses.
"We fully endorse NHTSA's action, which will ultimately make our country's highways a safer place for all of us," said Stephen Hampson, president and general manager for Meritor WABCO.
"In its ruling, NHTSA referred to electronic stability control as a remarkable safety success story, and our customers' experiences entirely support that view. ESC helps save lives and reduce injuries and accident-related costs."
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration:
• Rollovers are the fourth most frequent cause of fatal accidents involving large trucks
• There were 8,136 heavy truck rollover accidents in 2013, or an average of 22 rollovers each day
• NHTSA is projecting that its new ruling will prevent as many as 1,759 crashes, 649 injuries and 49 fatalities each year, providing the trucking industry with annual net economic benefits of more than $300 million on a $45 million investment by fleet owners to comply with the ruling
A recognised pioneer in delivering advanced safety systems, Meritor WABCO was first to market with its SmartTracTM stability control system in 2003. Today, 262,000 vehicles in more than 220 fleets are equipped with SmartTrac technology. Commercial vehicle fleets equipped with SmartTrac report a reduction of rollover and loss-of-control accidents by up to 60 percent.
Meritor WABCO is a North American joint venture focused on the development and delivery of proven, integrated safety technology and efficiency components. These include braking systems and controls, active safety systems, and suspension and control systems for commercial vehicles in North America.
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