Long celebrated by operators for its assisted braking technology, WABCO has developed a version of its TailGuard rear blind spot detection system specifically for garbage vehicles.
Australia is producing more waste than ever before. Recent statistics show that garbage generation rose 170 per cent between 1996 and 2015, while the nation’s population only increased 28 per cent to 24 million – making for a disproportionately high waste growth rate, according to MRA Consulting Group.
The impressive growth has drawn attention to the waste sector from local communities, putting the pressure on councils to ensure the increasing number of garbage collection vehicles can perform their tasks quickly, quietly, and most importantly for local residents, safely.
A longtime producer of safety technology, braking specialist WABCO has become a household name for its intelligent trailer program, a modular electronic braking system (EBS) for semi trailers. The technology is widespread and celebrated throughout the industry for its TailGuard system, a rear blind spot detection system with active braking that automatically halts a vehicle when an obstacle is detected.
“TailGuard helps to reduce risks during reversing by detecting small, large, static and moving objects when in the blind spot behind the vehicle, and automatically stopping at a safe distance,” WABCO Product Manager Blair Rundle says.
“This provides stress relief for drivers during reversing and helps them avoid collisions with pedestrians, gates, garbage bins and other objects behind the vehicle.”
As a major obstacle in the mounting neighbourhood and metropolitan garbage collection tasks is people, translating the safety benefits of the TailGuard’s active brake to refuse vehicles was a logical transition of the technology, WABCO says.
“Garbage collection vehicles do a lot of reversing, as it is often necessary to access dumpsters down narrow alleyways between buildings,” Blair says. “As well as the automatic brake, the TailGuard uses flashing side markers and audible warnings inside the cab to assist the driver, which can also be silenced to be considerate during unsocial hours.”
A distance indicator is also provided on an easy-to-operate remote control, an innovative unit mounted in the truck’s cab, displaying the distance between detected objects and the trailer. A traffic-light-inspired colour theme provides real-time details on where the object is in relation to the trailer.
“Our customers of the TailGuard for trailers have provided feedback that the system not only eases the pressure on the drivers during reversing, but has significantly reduced the number of repairs for the small dings that were once common in tight loading docks.
“The TailGuard not only improves safety for the vehicle’s surroundings, but also for the vehicle itself, reducing repair costs.”
WABCO Australia Pty Ltd
Ph: 03 8541 7000
www.wabco-auto.com
