Mack Protect combines radar, cameras, and smart detection algorithms designed by Mack to help drivers avoid accidents or reduce their impact. It now provides expanded safety coverage, including forward- and side-looking pedestrian recognition.

Alex Lee, senior product manager for vocational and medium-duty vehicles at Mack Trucks, explained how the system works for everyday driving. “The system includes a camera in the windshield, along with radar units in the front bumper and passenger side. It offers forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control with an adjustable time gap, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, speed-limit sign identification with overspeed alerts, and right-side lane-change and blind-spot support with pedestrian and bicyclist detection.”

Lee also described how the alerts communicate with drivers. “If a pedestrian or vehicle is detected, a warning lamp flashes on the A-pillar. It glows orange as the truck gets closer and beeps and turns red if the vehicle gets too close. The radars are designed to cover a 102-inch width and track objects between 150 and 250 meters in ideal daylight highway conditions.”

With Mack Protect now available on medium-duty trucks, MD Series drivers gain the same advanced safety features that heavy-duty drivers rely on, helping reduce collisions and enhance confidence on the road.

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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has made decisive changes to its consumer-focused 5-Star Safety Ratings program, emphasizing a future with fewer roadway fatalities. By integrating cutting-edge driver assistance technologies and launching a pedestrian protection initiative, the program sets the stage for continual updates over the next decade.

A Strategic Push Towards Zero Fatalities

“This action today is another important step toward addressing the crisis on our roads and achieving the Department’s ambitious, long-term goal of zero road fatalities,” remarked U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “Like our move earlier this year to make automatic emergency braking standard on new passenger cars and light trucks, these changes to the 5-Star Safety Ratings will speed up adoption of technologies that reduce the frequency and severity of crashes while helping consumers make informed decisions about buying a new car.”

Key Components of the Updated Safety Program

The revamped New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) now highlights several groundbreaking safety technologies aimed at protecting both vehicle occupants and pedestrians:

• New Driver Assistance Features: These include pedestrian automatic emergency braking, lane keeping assist, and advanced blind spot detection and intervention.

• Revised Testing Protocols: Enhanced evaluation criteria for existing technologies like automatic emergency braking ensure better performance tracking.

• Pedestrian Protection Initiative: Introduced to assess how well a vehicle’s design can lessen injuries and save lives in pedestrian collisions.

• Strategic Roadmaps: Plans for continuous improvement in vehicle safety, focusing on crash avoidance and protection for cyclists and motorcyclists.

Aligning with the Department’s Safety Vision

“Our goal with NHTSA’s 5-Star Safety Ratings program has always been to help consumers choose safer vehicles and to encourage manufacturers to improve vehicle safety,” stated Adam Raviv, NHTSA’s Chief Counsel. “With these NCAP updates, we’re ensuring consumers have more useful and relevant information on the latest safety technologies and that the program keeps up with the pace of technological change and innovation.”

The updated NCAP is a strategic element of the Department’s National Roadway Safety Strategy, aligning with ongoing efforts to drastically cut down on serious injuries and deaths on our highways.

Source: The Trucker

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