A Scania coach fitted with one of the world’s most advanced accident-prevention technologies has arrived in Australia. A Scania K 310UB
A Scania coach fitted with one of the world’s most advanced accident-prevention technologies has arrived in Australia.
A Scania K 310UB demonstration unit has been fitted with electronic stability, better known as ESP.
ESP is a critical aid in preventing accidents that occur when a vehicle corners or swerves at speed.
“This is a major addition to the arsenal of safety features that characterise the Scania product,” says Scania Australia National Manager Truck and Bus Trevor O’Brien.
“ESP can save lives, and it is with a considerable pride that we are able to announce its availability on Scania buses and coaches in Australia.”
ESP operates by making critical adjustments to the vehicle’s speed and direction, without any action by the driver, when dedicated sensors detect the vehicle has entered a corner or swerved at excessive speed.
ESP applies each wheel’s individual brakes and simultaneously intervenes in the engine management to reduce power and apply the Scania Retarder and exhaust brake. This reduces the danger of skidding and thus the risk of an accident.
“It acts like greased lightning,” O’Brien says.
“If it recognises a critical situation, it reacts immediately. And what’s more, you do not have to switch ESP on. If it is fitted to your bus or coach, it is always active for you.”
O’Brien says the best protection against accidents was to prevent them in advance.
“Active driving safety systems such as electronic stability, as well as ABS and Traction Control, come into operation before an accident occurs,” he says.
ABS prevents the wheels from looking during braking and traction control prevents the wheels from slipping when accelerating. ABS and traction control are standard with Scania’s electronic disc brake system.
“ESP augments the advantages of ABS and traction control. ESP not only improves the vehicle’s longitudinal dynamics, but critically, its lateral dynamics – thus resulting in stable driving behaviour in all directions,” O’Brien says.
“But you cannot retrofit ESP, so it’s important operators make the right decision when purchasing their Scania bus or coach.”
ESP is available on Scania’s entire range of two-axle buses and coaches.
The demonstration unit in Australia is a 310hp K 310IB two-axle coach fitted with an Irizar body designed for charter or school bus use.