Meritor WABCO system designed to meet NHTSA proposal requirements

Meritor WABCO Vehicle Control Systems has confirmed its SmarTrac Electronic Stability Control (ESC) product has the technology to help ensure that truck tractors and motorcoaches are able to meet the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)-proposed standard on electronic stability control systems for heavy-duty vehicles.

The system was introduced by Meritor WABCO in 2005 and combines roll stability control and yaw or rotational control, the company says. ESC is said to reduce the risk of vehicle instability while on slippery surfaces or taking evasive action, limiting the likelihood of jack-knife and drift-out conditions. If a potential rollover risk is detected, Meritor WABCO says tractor-trailer speed is reduced through engine control and application of the engine brake, tractor and trailer foundation brakes.

“At Meritor WABCO, we take extreme pride in putting safety first and have long been at the forefront of ESC technology in North America,” says Jon Morrison, president and general manager, Meritor WABCO. “We continue to develop leading technology that will help our customers save lives, save property, and make our highways safer. We agree with NHTSA’s recognition of the benefits of ESC technology.”