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Bosch is the leading global supplier of technology and services when it comes to vehicle safety and the “Stop the Crash” initiative is providing them with a platform to campaign for much more widespread use of vehicle safety systems.
Stop the Crash (#STOPTHECRASH) is an initiative of the consumer association Global New Car Assessment Program (Global NCAP). The campaign’s objective is to boost awareness and promote the use of key safety systems with proven real world effectiveness such as ESC (Electronic Stability Control), Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), and Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) for Motorcycles particularly in emerging markets. The partnership also highlights the importance of tyre safety; particularly tyre pressure and tread depth.
When asked about this initiative, Arun Srinivasan, Executive Vice President, Mobility Solutions at Bosch UK commented to AA Thornton: “For Bosch, every traffic fatality is one too many. With our technologies, we can protect human life around the world. Therefore, Bosch is pleased to be an official partner of the GlobalNCAP ‘Stop the Crash Campaign’ to help the introduction of key crash avoidance technologies as a regulatory requirement for new vehicles.”
ESC (also referred to as Electronic Stability Program, ESP®) has been called the most significant advance in vehicle safety since the introduction of the seat belt[1] and one of the most important crash avoidance systems currently available. It works primarily by monitoring steering and wheel traction and automatically braking wheels individually when a loss of traction is detected. Some systems also reduce engine power until control is regained by the driver.
Invented by Bosch, a commercial ESC system was first introduced in 1995 on the Mercedes-Benz S 600 Coupé. It became mandatory in all new cars built in the EU from 1 November 2014 and it is estimated that since that introduction in 1995, at least 188,500[2] crashes,- which would have resulted in injury have been avoided and more than 6,100 lives have been saved, due to ESC.
ESC is now mandatory in Australia, Canada, the European Union, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, South Korea, Turkey and the USA and will also soon be mandatory in Argentina.
Through Stop the Crash, Global NCAP are campaigning for all UN Member States, especially those that have significant automobile production, mandate ESC in all new models by 2018 and in all automobiles in production by the end of the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety in 2020. A global standard for ESC has been adopted by the UN to enable governments worldwide to support such a compulsory adoption of the system.
Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) works by scanning the road ahead to detect obstacles and will warn the driver if a collision is likely. If the driver fails to take action the system can apply the brakes automatically. A basic system will scan the road only at low speeds, but more advanced systems (like that shown in the video linked above) work at higher speeds and can also detect and react to pedestrians and cyclists in the road as well as stationary obstacles and other vehicles.
Motorcycle ABS prevents the wheels of a motorcycle from locking under heavy braking which helps maintain stability and decreases stopping distance.
The system monitors wheel speed and traction and adjusts the pressure of brake fluid in order to prevent a wheel from locking-up (i.e. skidding) when the brakes are applied. This significantly reduces braking distances and helps to prevent a motorcyclist from skidding over and falling off their bike under heavy braking.
It became mandatory in the EU from 1 January 2016 that all new motorcycles with an engine size above 125cc are fitted with ABS.
The Stop the Crash campaign is raising awareness of the importance of driver aids and pushing for their mandatory introduction worldwide.
So if you are considering buying a new car or motorcycle, ask yourself these questions:
Our Automotive Patent department has worked closely with Bosch for a number of years and help manage their portfolio of UK patent applications, handling applications directed to numerous driver aids such as AEB and also including parking assist. Two of our patent attorneys, Nikesh Patel and Stuart Greenwood, attended the 2017 London Motor Show and visited the Stop the Crash exhibition where they were driven in a car and the intervention of AEB was demonstrated.
[1] http://www.stopthecrash.org/about/
[2] http://www.globalncap.org/consumers-international-joins-stopthecrash-partnership/
Category: Latest Insights, News | Author: Nikesh Patel | Published: | Read more
