Volvo

You just said the magic words. Avoiding. I volunteered for some safety seminar at the GATS show in Dallas. Paid us $100. for 90 minutes so we thought what the heck. Pay for gas, dinner, and some brewsters. They talked and talked about all the new electronic systems like collision avoidance , collision mitigation, lane departure, etc etc. I told the man and incredibly hot babe with him from DC that none of that is worth a crap until people start learning and using avoidance tactics. That was not what they wanted to hear, but they were polite. Like you said, some may be protected, but if that much weight comes down on you all you have is the man upstairs.

 

I understand what you are saying and agree 100% on safety. However, some of the features Volvo has in their trucks would a Pete/KW a better truck when doing collision avoidance and other maneuvers for the just in case moments.

KH

 

The one advantage that Volvo has is the design of the engine breakaway which will breakaway under a hard front impact collision allowing the engine to be pushed under the cab instead of inside the cab and that can definitely help save major injuries from an accident, I have seen it first hand.

 

I'm not exactly following (I think it might be the missing word) but both KW and Pete offer everything that volvo does except side impact airbags and as outerspace mentioned, breakaway engine and transmission mounts (well at least they don't advertise that they're designed to break away so I'm assuming they don't).

On a KW or Pete you can get Bendix ESP (6s), Vorad radar, and lane departure warning.

 

I took it as he was saying in an emergency maneuver that a KW or Pete would handle better. I would agree to an extent. That is one of my complaints with the Volvo because in a hard maneuver it feels like the truck is rolling over and in an emergency maneuver it could possibly cause someone to overeact and really cause them a problem. That's JMO though.

 

What I am saying is that I have never heard of Pete nor KW installing stability control nor anti skid protection on their trucks which helps a lot if you over steer while avoiding an object. I have only heard of Volvo doing this and the video I mention proves this.

KH

 

I would say probably half of the trucks in the Bendix videos on youtube are PACCAR trucks.

http://www.bendix.com/en-us/products/abs/Pages/TruckTractor.aspx

KW and Peterbilt have offered the Bendix ESP system on tractors and some trucks since 2006ish. The KW or Pete dealer should be able to give you a brochure and tell you how much it is according to the databook.

 

You don't need all that crap...Stop texting, playin' on the internet, using the qualcom, watching movies, and all the other steering wheel holder distractions and learn to drive a truck like you should and just maybe you'll stay in your lane and not get too close to the vehicle in front of you!

That stuff is for idiots that shouldn't be in a truck in the first place.

 

Well they were all part of the Volvo is safer video...but I don't know of a class 8 brand without them...

Fleets like lane departure because it lowers their insurance premiums (apparently its effective enough at keeping drivers awake that it lowers their risk premiums). Vorad (adaptive cruise control) is nice but well... for the lazy.

As a driver the only one that makes sense is ESP. You'll never notice it during normal driving, and if you're lucky, never. But the day it kicks in you'll thank your lucky stars that you have it.

 

The Bendix stability system is STANDARD on the Volvo as are the airbags and the engine-goes-down technology and the collapsible steering column and deformable steering wheel and the high-strength-steel cab.