Believed to be an industry first, the new failsafe system – dubbed VT BrakeSafe, from Vision Techniques – should put paid to rollaway accidents affecting waste, construction and freight vehicles.
“It’s a simple solution to a potentially devastating problem,” states Craven Council fleet manager Steve Parkinson.
“Having a failsafe like this on a vehicle is a health and safety necessity,” he continues, adding: “We’re really happy VT came to us first with this system.”
“What we’ve done is create something unique to the waste industry but also a system that will take away the risk of rolling accidents,” comments Vision Techniques technical manager Nigel Armstrong.
Armstrong accepts that systems that warn drivers have been around for some time, but makes the point that VT BrakeSafe is the first to automatically apply the brakes as well as warning the driver audibly, if they attempt to leave the cab.
“We’re very proud to be the only provider of a system that will stop a vehicle automatically without driver interaction, taking away the risk of unexpected movement,” he declares.
Armstrong says the new handbrake system will also integrate with other truck safety products, such as recording and telematics systems to provide reports and statistics for fleet managers.