U.S. DOT to give $12.7 million for advanced-technology truck safety tests
TORONTO (Nov. 9, 1999) — Truckmakers Freightliner Corp., Mack Trucks, and Volvo Trucks North America will receive grants from the U.S. government to lead tests of high-tech safety systems to prevent vehicle rollovers, rear-end collisions, and roadway-departure collisions, as well as to develop advanced braking and hazard warning technologies.
The companies, along with the Minnesota Dept. of Transportation, will split federal Intelligent Vehicle Initiative (IVI) grants totaling $12.7 million US, U.S. Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater said yesterday. The IVI program is part of the U.S. DOTÕS Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) initiative. Its mission is to accelerate consumer market availability of advanced safety systems. Slater released the announcement at the ITS World Congress taking place this week in Toronto.
The grants will be combined with $7.7 million from corporate partners involved in the projects, Slater said.
Freightliner will lead a partnership to test a “Rollover Stability Advisor” to address rollover accidents involving heavy trucks. Other firms in this partnership include Praxair Inc. (a hazardous materials fleet operator and trailer manufacturer); Roaduser International; and the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute.
Volvo will lead tests of collision warning systems and an advanced braking system. The other firms in this partnership include U.S. Xpress Leasing Inc. (a fleet operator) and North Carolina A&T University. This test will be conducted throughout the United States.
Mack will test a system that detects a vehicleÕs position in its lane on the highway and warns against drift. The other organizations in this partnership are McKenzie Tank Lines, Inc., (a fleet operator) and the Virginia Dept. of Transportation.
The Minnesota Dept. of Transportation will lead a partnership to test a fleet of snowplows equipped with collision warning and lateral guidance. Others in this partnership include Altra Technology, Navistar International, the University of Minnesota and 3M.
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