Mercedes-Benz Trucks’ revolutionary Active Brake Assist 4 technology has been named Best Truck Innovation of the Year at the 2017 Commercial Fleet Awards.

Stuart Jeggo, Head of Key Account Management for Mercedes-Benz Trucks UK, right, collected the Best Truck Innovation of the Year trophy from Mark Bobbins, Head of Commercial Operations at award sponsor WMS Group

Active Brake Assist 4 assists a truck driver by providing visible and audible alerts when a hazard is detected. If the driver fails to respond to the warnings, ABA4 can reduce the vehicle speed and initiate full braking. In an industry first, the system can also detect stationary obstacles and pedestrians crossing ahead of the vehicle.

Commenting on the decision to award Mercedes-Benz Trucks with the Best Truck Innovation of the Year trophy, Commercial Fleet Editor-In-Chief Stephen Briers said: “Active Brake Assist 4 is a major safety development and it’s particularly suited to urban environments. Our independent panel of leasing specialists, residual value setters and fleet end-users praised Mercedes-Benz for bringing this innovation to market well before the mandatory regulation, which is not only good for pedestrians, but also for the truck industry in general. From a technological perspective, it’s yet more proof of how Mercedes-Benz continues to be the clear leader in safety.”

Mike Belk, Managing Director, Mercedes-Benz Trucks UK, added: “We’re delighted to have won this award. Active Brake Assist is a fantastic example of how our safety systems benefit the fleets that use our trucks – by helping to prevent accidents, it ensures that the driver and other road users stay safe and the truck remains on the road and earning. While you can’t put a price on safety, we have heard of operators saving hundreds on their insurance premiums. The safety of vulnerable road users is rapidly rising up the agenda of fleet managers and policymakers, and this award is a strong endorsement that truck operators can trust Mercedes-Benz trucks.”

Included as part of Mercedes-Benz’s Safety Pack on the Actros, Antos and some Arocs models, ABA4 evaluates the traffic situation in front of the truck as soon as the vehicle drives off. The system uses its own vehicle data and also monitors the distances from vehicles driving in front, as well as their speeds. It can detect stationary obstacles and reduce the consequences of collisions, or completely avoid such accidents through prompt initiation of full braking. The system works using radar, up to a speed of 50km/h. The Safety Pack also comprises Proximity Control Assist, a driver’s airbag, and – on rigid trucks – Roll Control Assist. Specifying this attractive bundle of key options not only demonstrates that a fleet manager is concerned about their Duty of Care requirements, but can also save an operator up to 30% compared to the cost of the individual options.

The Commercial Fleet Awards are decided by an expert panel with decades of experience in the industry. As well as winning the Best Truck Innovation award, Mercedes-Benz Trucks was also shortlisted for the Low Carbon Truck of the Year and Truck Fleet Manufacturer of the Year awards. Furthermore, no fewer than five models from the Mercedes-Benz truck range were nominated by Commercial Fleet readers for the Truck of the Year Award.

Commercial Fleet magazine has the largest controlled subscription circulation of 17,416 senior commercial fleet decision makers receiving it on a monthly basis. The awards ceremony took place at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole on 30 November.

Active Brake Assist 4Mercedes-Benz

About the Author: John Loughran