The so-called turn-off assistant in trucks will probably become obligatory only in a few years. Yet, some companies are already upgrading. One of them is the wholesale
bakery Kuchenmeister from Soest/Germany. The topic of vehicle fleet is a matter of priority for the family business. Hans-Günter Trockels not only has the required driving licence for 18-ton trucks, he also participates in the safety trainings mandatory for his drivers. So, he knows which dangerous situations can happen in dense city traffic. Especially turning right, changing lanes and starting have their pitfalls.

To minimize these risks, Kuchenmeister is gradually equipping its entire truck fleet with state-of-the-art technology. For example, the com-pany has acquired 17 new Mercedes tractor units with turn-off assistance. The advantage of this system is that it recognizes the weaker road users and warns the driver by visual and acoustic signals. The system thus helps the driver to avoid critical situations or to reduce the consequences of accidents. For this purpose, two proximity sensors permanently monitor the passenger side – over the entire vehicle length along the width of a lane.

Oliver Lahode, Member of the Executive Board, explains: “With the aid of a two-stage warning system, the turn-off assistant helps people to defuse critical traffic situations themselves. It assists by an acoustic aid and a flashing light. In other words, the technology does not actively intervene in the event. The turn-off assistant is a great help for the drivers, and they can react accordingly to avoid accidents”.