Heavy trucks are among the most prominent means of commercial and government land transport in the GCC countries and the world, as they play one of the most vital roles in linking the global trade route to each other by supporting the economic assets of neighboring countries through trade and customs.
In addition to the international and political convergence between neighboring countries due to the transport of goods and goods and allowing the transit of transport trucks between countries, these trucks are a major challenge in terms of traffic safety due to their very large size and heavy weight, which requires accurate driving and requires providing smooth roads suitable for these high weights. The most serious concern for many drivers is the effectiveness of the brakes in these trucks moving at full speed. Hence, we wanted to summarize for you in this article the benefit of having an emergency braking system. Through the next few lines, we will learn about this system, its components and its effectiveness With reference to officially recorded statistics in the GCC region and Saudi Arabia in particular.
Traffic studies and patrols at Abu Dhabi Police indicate that 16% of traffic deaths in the Emirate were caused by truck accidents, which explicitly confirms the huge threat posed by heavy vehicles in the event of a decline in the performance of braking systems. On the other hand, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the government has worked to develop a plan within Vision 2030 to reduce the number of deaths resulting from traffic accidents to a rate of 10 per 100,000 people by 2030, which requires strengthening traffic safety procedures in the heavy sector, in addition to distributing speed control systems and effective communication between traffic patrols and road control committees.
The importance of braking systems in the world of heavy transport
In the world of heavy commercial transport, and among all these giant super vehicles, many people ask about the ability in this place to curb their speed and stop quickly, even with a very heavy load. Here is the importance of brake systems in trucks, especially in giant vehicles in general. They are several highly accurate systems that provide protection to all trucks and trailers by connecting all wheels in the truck and trailer to one integrated system. This ensures that all wheels stop together in a synchronized manner that preserves the truck's path and prevents it from skidding due to centrifugal energy. This system is responsive Fast. This is something that all companies are keen to excel in. The ability of the brake system to respond to driver commands at full speed provides a reduction in the stopping distance needed for the truck to stop, reducing the risk of direct collisions and terrible accidents. May God help you.
Mass effect: Loaded trucks sometimes have a mass of tens of tons, which clearly means that their kinetic energy is much greater than normal cars. This huge energy requires equally powerful counter-energy to stop them in the event of braking, especially that the matter must be done within a few seconds and within a short distance of meters, in order to make braking feasible and prevent a collision. If there is a failure by the truck's brake system, the risks increase dramatically. American traffic studies found that brake problems were a common cause of about 30% of accidents involving large trucks. This shows the need for braking systems to operate efficiently High to avoid these high rates of accidents.
Impact on mortality: Truck-related accidents were clearly reflected in the risk rates of accidents involving heavy and medium trucks, especially small cars and microbuses. In the United States of America in 2012, heavy truck accidents caused 19% of deaths and 34% of injuries caused by traffic accidents related to heavy trucks. Similarly, in Canada, the percentage of injuries and deaths from heavy truck accidents was about 64% of all traffic accidents. These global statistics are mentioned because they clearly show that heavy trucks, if they get into any kind of traffic accident, increase the number of Deaths, injuries and physical damage to infrastructure.
The effect on maneuvering: Due to the size and mass of heavy trucks, maneuvering in them is difficult, especially if the truck is long and pulls a trailer. Due to poor maneuverability, traffic regulations have set specific speeds for the safe passage of trucks. For example, in Abu Dhabi, the maximum speed of trucks on external roads was set at 80 km/h and stopping when visibility is low in fog, rain and similar weather conditions. Without these controls, safety and security remain subject to the performance of brake systems in trucks, which puts us in the face of a challenge to adjust the general specifications of the quality of trucks operating inside the country and to be equipped with braking systems Advanced and fast effective. Otherwise, we remain at a high level of risk to lives and money.
Future prospects for Saudi Arabia: With the continued efforts in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to achieve a significant reduction in the number of traffic deaths and accidents, the focus has become on advanced technical innovations. Braking systems are among the main systems included in the new safety standards that Saudi Arabia continues to improve and develop annually. The requirements of the International Safety Regulation (UN R131) have forced truck manufacturers to provide their vehicles with advanced emergency braking systems that meet international safety standards, making us highlight their growing importance in a world that has always increased faster.
In the world of heavy transport, safety lies not only in engine power, but in the ability of brakes to stop this force at the crucial moment. Braking systems are the silent guardian that prevents disasters before they occur.
What is emergency braking and what are its components?
Emergency braking, or (Emergency Braking), when it is about heavy transport trucks, usually refers to auxiliary or automated systems that provide support to the driver in danger stages and high-risk situations. Thus, it is very different from its sisters in traditional mechanical brakes powered by hydraulic or pneumatic pressure. The talk here is about advanced electronic systems that monitor the truck's distance from the solid objects in front and behind it. These systems have special techniques for early accident detection, which monitors the vehicle's surroundings through advanced sensors, one of the most popular automatic emergency braking systems (AEB) system, which works through advanced sensors whose function is to monitor the distance between the truck and other vehicles in addition to knowing the edge of the road and the direction of the track. Through these sensors, the driver is alerted through early warnings, and then the systems automatically take over the braking process if necessary.
Typical emergency braking system components include:
a. Sensors, radars and cameras: Sensors, radars and high-resolution surveillance cameras are often installed at the front of the truck to continuously monitor the road. Sensors measure the distance between the vehicle and the hard objects in front of it, in addition to determining the speed of the truck and the speed of the hard object approaching the truck. Through these data, the current risk rate is determined. If the distance is small, audio and visual alerts are issued to the driver to take action. If the driver does not react to the alarms, the braking systems will be activated automatically.
b. Electronic processing unit (ECU): The electronic control unit receives all the information from the sensors installed on the truck and deals with it by performing very accurate and fast calculations to take the required security action. It is the security center that coordinates interference between brakes and sensors, based on the data and information received.
c. The mechanism for linking with the brake system: Brakes are connected to electronic braking systems through pneumatic and electrical valves that control air or hydraulic flow to the brake presses. When an emergency braking command is given by the electronic processing unit, these valves immediately increase the pressure on the main brakes at a high speed. This increases the levels of brake pressure, which immediately curbs the speed of the truck, creating a noticeable slowdown in a very short distance. The stopping distance may vary depending on the type of truck and the weight of the cargo.
d. Booster power unit (in trucks with air brakes): Air compressors work in air brakes through a compressor that generates a lot of air pressure that is pumped into the brake tanks. Although trucks operate on the same pneumatic system, emergency braking systems use enhanced power units to generate greater and faster pressure than traditional compressors in order to ensure that the truck is stopped at full speed and to avoid serious accidents.
e. Driver interface: The driver interface can be summarized as a set of warning lights and warning sounds inside the cab, in addition to some indicators on the control panel that show the system status, the percentage of brake stimulation and the readiness of the braking system.
Why is emergency braking crucial in preventing accidents?
First: reducing frontal collisions
Recent studies show that a large percentage of frontal collisions occur as a result of a truck colliding with the vehicle in front of it due to a sudden stop or slowdown in its speed. Thus, the advanced system of emergency braking is an appropriate solution, as it has reduced nearly one third of the accidents that convince heavy trucks. According to a report by the Foundation”Bosch“Emergency braking systems known as (AEB) may help avoid up to 34% of heavy truck accidents, enhancing road safety and contributing to reducing the industrial costs of maintaining heavy commercial trucks and infrastructure damaged by major accidents.
Second: protecting lives
With emergency braking systems, the speed of heavy trucks (trailers) decreases before a final collision, which significantly reduces the severity or often prevents the collision. As a result, the probability of surviving major accidents becomes higher and higher, especially for truck drivers and other commercial vehicles. According to some international websites, driving assistance techniques (especially emergency braking) have contributed to reducing the percentage of victims in terrible accidents on highways, so that rear collisions have decreased by almost 49% in vehicles and trucks equipped with these advanced systems, although studies are mostly on cars Small, but the matter is general for all vehicles equipped with these distinctive systems that are able to stop vehicles very quickly and in record time.
Third: reducing economic damage
Accidents caused by heavy trucks not only cause human losses, but also cause huge financial losses due to truck failure or damage to commercial goods transported. According to a report by the World Health Organization, the economic losses of traffic accidents in Saudi Arabia amount to about 2% of GDP. Therefore, the introduction of emergency braking technology and other assistive technologies is an investment in reducing the significant economic waste that results from terrible accidents that cause financial and industrial damage.
Emergency Braking Systems (AEB) are a crucial element in a modern safety system because they can reduce frontal collisions by up to 34%, reduce the severity of accidents, and save lives and property.
Technical challenges and maintenance of the emergency braking system
Despite the great benefits, relying on emergency braking systems in trucks has its accompanying technical challenges and financial difficulties, which we will list below:
Strict environmental standards: Heavy commercial trucks operate in very difficult work environments and are frequently exposed to dust, mud and rain, as well as constant vibrations. This environment makes it difficult to keep cameras and radars clean, causing a change in the accuracy of radars and the need to maintain, clean and calibrate them regularly. Scratches and dust accumulated on lenses and radars may reduce the accuracy of measuring distance or the ability to identify obstacles, solid objects and oncoming and going vehicles.
The high reliability required: Due to the critical nature of emergency braking, all the components of which the system is made must be extremely durable and robust in the face of environmental conditions. Therefore, highly rated anti-vibration radar sensors and cameras with anti-condensation covers are used. Electronic systems also require regular tests to ensure that they are not deviated or damaged due to high heat and severe shocks.
Complicated regular maintenance: The maintenance of traditional brake systems is difficult to maintain periodically, due to the many parts such as brake pads, compressor air pumps, and air compressors, which increases additional maintenance steps for emergency braking systems, including checking the status of electrical connections, speed sensors, camera angles, and radars, in addition to periodic software updates to the control unit (ECU) to ensure its compatibility with different modes of new driving. These steps may require specialized workshops and accurate inspection equipment, which significantly increases the cost of regular maintenance.
Harmony between electronic systems: It is necessary to coordinate emergency braking with other systems such as anti-lock brakes (ABS) and electronic stability system (ESP). This requires advanced algorithms and highly efficient techniques, with continuous efforts by manufacturers to provide these technologies, but they are still under continuous development. Any problem or defect in compatibility may lead to disaster at all levels.
What is the difference between normal braking and emergency braking?
The mechanism of operation: Normal braking (the natural brake pedal) remains under the control of the driver directly and urgently. The driver presses the brake pedal as much as he needs to slow down or stop the vehicle gradually. Emergency braking automatically intervenes in the event of danger based on the instructions of the system responsible for processing the data, helping the driver to control the truck better. Its activation may be due to the driver pressing the brakes suddenly and quickly, which activates the BAS assistance brake system or in cases of danger detected through radar and camera, the brakes are activated automatically as in the systems AEB.
The amount of power and additional intervention: In normal braking, the braking force is limited to what the driver can generate through his impulse. In emergency braking, the advanced system helps generate maximum brake pressure automatically, for example in the case of using the Brake Assist system. If it is known that the driver has pressed very strongly and suddenly, the system will increase the air pressure on the brakes to the maximum and automatically, which contributes to avoiding terrible accidents.
In the world of highways, the driver may not be given more than one moment between life and danger. Normal braking is his response, but it's not always enough when things get out of control. Here, the role of emergency braking appears, as if it is the hidden guard inside the truck. It monitors silently and moves at lightning speed when the hand is delayed or the decision is frozen. It's the difference between an accident that happened... An accident has never happened.
Epilogue
In the world of heavy transport, safety and security are a top priority that cannot be waived or risked. Hence the industrial and awareness role played by Darbek Tire Manufacturing Company in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by providing the best advanced technologies in the manufacture of high-quality tires intended for the airspace of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Arabian Gulf region and the Middle East in general. Darbek Company works alongside the directions of government agencies concerned with Vision 2030 in raising awareness and development by providing information and knowledge materials necessary to raise the awareness of citizens and expatriates.
