Scania’s new bus generation, the Advanced Driver Assistance System stands out as a tool for enabling safety, reassuring cost-effective bus & coach transport.
Scania’s Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS)
Scania’s Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) is an electronic system of software, sensors and cameras, addressing interactions with vulnerable road users, traffic blind spots and maintaining vehicle distance in heavy traffic. Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control is good for all types of buses and coaches. For city bus drivers, the standstill function avoids the need for sudden braking, while the time gap function ensures a comfortable ride on the roads for passenger and driver.
Another key feature is the Vulnerable Road User Collision Warning system. It’s available on right and left-hand drive buses and coaches, and activates between 0 and 36 km/h. It’s particularly useful regarding cyclists and pedestrians near the bus. It’ll become mandatory in Europe for new vehicle types from 2022, and for existing vehicle types from 2024.
The Blind Spot Warning function works at travelling speed, using a sensor on the side of the vehicle to detect and warn the driver if another vehicle is in the driver’s blind spot in an adjacent lane which keeps the driver and other road users safe. Lane Keep Assist, Lane Change Collision Prevention and even driver drowsiness & inattention alerts are also in development, the first two due in 2022, subject to the introduction of a relevant safety requirement that allows their inclusion.
The ADAS package is an additional cost, but it’s a must for bus and coach operators due to its cost-saving potential. ADAS helps to avoid common types of accidents and keep sought-after drivers happy. Early reactions from companies using the system have been unanimously positive.
“ADAS can make the driver happy. If the driver’s happy and secure in their job, then passengers are secure, comfortable and happy. And above all, road users are safer,” says Angela Quilisch, Product Manager at Product Management of Buses & Coaches, who’s been responsible for product training with a focus on the safety aspects of the new bus generation.