Ever bought a vehicle that has an Emergency Brake Assist system (BA or BAS for short) and did not know what it is or why you have it? Here we will discuss the emergency brake assist systems for your truck and why it is such an important safety feature.
What is Emergency Brake Assist?
Emergency Brake Assist (BAS) is a technical term used for the components installed on your truck that allows you to apply your brakes more effectively and have more control in emergency situations where you either need to evade or do an emergency stop to prevent an accident. In 1992 research was conducted at the Mercedes-Benz driving simulator in Berlin that showed that 90% of drivers fail to brake with enough force or applies brakes too late in an emergency situation.
Why is the Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) so important?
Most drivers are not adequately prepared for the effort it takes to apply the maximum braking power during an emergency situation and the vibrations that comes from the brake pedal when the ABS fully kicks in. Having less than the maximum braking force applied within the shortest or fastest time during an emergency situation can mean the difference between life and death. And the emergency brake assist systems can not only detect such emergency situations.
How do you ensure your drivers brake with enough force and apply the brakes in time?
Ensure that your Driver knows to expect the relatively high effort required for maximum braking. They will also need to be ready for ‘buzzing’ feedback through the brake pedal during ABS operation. In case of an emergency stop, slow reaction and less than maximum braking could result in insufficient time or distance to stop before an accident happens.
EBA is designed to detect ‘emergency stops’ and to apply maximum braking effort within milliseconds. The system interprets braking behaviour by assessing the rate at which the brake pedal is activated. If the system identifies it was a quick reaction, it automatically initiates full braking faster than the speed at which the driver can move his foot. Emergency stopping distances are thus shortened, resulting in a likelihood of fewer accidents.
In turn, Brake Assist detects the circumstances in which emergency braking is required by measuring the speed with which the brake pedal is depressed. Some systems can even take into account the rapidity with which the accelerator is released. This pre-tensions the brakes when a ‘panic release’ of the accelerator is noted. When panic braking is detected, the Brake Assist system automatically develops maximum brake boost in order to mitigate a driver’s tendency to brake without enough force. In doing so, Brake Assist has been shown to reduce stopping distances by a significant margin.
Byron Martin
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