PACCAR Parts has announced a “significant step” towards improving heavy vehicle road safety in Australia through a new Kenworth retrofit project to meet a recent Australian Design Rule (ADR).
PACCAR Parts will provide a solution for Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) that brings earlier model Kenworth trucks into line with the standards.
The new ADRs are aimed at improving heavy vehicle safety for heavy goods vehicles that came into effect in February. This includes ADR 97/00 that mandates the fitment of AEB for most heavy goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes GVM.
Knorr-Bremse technical and account manager Brett Medlin says this crucial technology seeks to minimise the severity of in-lane frontal collisions, particularly in monotonous highway driving conditions.
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While most new locally built trucks, including Kenworths, will come with the new safety systems installed as a default, Medlin says it’s important for drivers to know how the technology works.
“Bendix Fusion is an Advanced Driver Assistance System, designed to enhance vehicle control and safety across diverse driving conditions. The technology is already fitted as standard on most new Kenworth models, ensuring compliance with ADR 97/00,” Medlin says.
PACCAR has been an early adopter of AEB technology, including adding Bendix Fusion technology since the locally manufactured T610 model was launched in 2016. This system combines radar, camera technology and the Bendix Electronic Stability Program to provide comprehensive collision mitigation and enhanced braking capabilities.
“The collision mitigation system PACCAR uses on its locally manufactured Kenworth trucks is the fully featured version of Bendix Fusion that includes Enhanced Autonomous Emergency Braking, Enhanced Stationary Vehicle Braking, Multi-lane Autonomous Emergency Braking, and Highway Departure Warning and Braking,” Medlin says.
“Nose-to-tail collisions is the second-most common accident involving trucks after rollovers. In scenarios like a car cutting off a truck, or moving out from a lane of stationary traffic in front of the truck, the Bendix Fusion braking system applies the brakes in a much faster way than a driver can react.”
Medlin says AEB is also relevant for compatible older vehicles, with PACCAR Parts now allowing its customers the chance to upgrade certain older Kenworth trucks that are compatible with the latest Bendix Fusion system.
“Most Kenworth trucks that have an electronic stability program on it could have the electronic brake controller upgraded with the Bendix Fusion system. So long as you’ve got the right level of electronics and valves on the truck, you can retrofit it,” Medlin says.
“AEBS not only improves the safety of these vehicles, but a lot of tenders including government, construction and grocery projects specify the level of technology that must be on the truck, including the fitment of AEBS.
“PACCAR customers who are considering retrofitting the Bendix Fusion system to their vehicles should speak to their PACCAR Parts dealer. The dealer will coordinate with PACCAR’s technical team and Knorr-Bremse’s technical support team to ensure the chassis number is compatible and guide the implementation of the retrofit safety system.”
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