Swedish truck maker Scania has revealed its next generation truck will be fitted with side curtain airbags to protect the driver in a rollover.
In a world first, the side curtain airbags will be fitted to the headliner moulding above the door and deploy if a rollover is detected.
Scania believes the innovation will significantly reduce the number of trucking fatalities from rollovers.
According to its developer, Christofer Karlsson the airbags will serve as additional protection to ensure occupants of the cab aren’t thrown out in an accident.
“Our rollover side curtain airbag, particularly when combined with the steering wheel airbag and our seat belt pre-tensioners, ensures that the driver and any passengers on board will have a much better chance of surviving a rollover accident in one of the new generation of Scania trucks, with far less severe consequences than would be the case in any other truck,” Karlsson said.
“A common reason for trucks rolling over is that the driver is forced to carry out evasive action to avoid an oncoming vehicle or an obstruction.
“If the truck then ends up off the road, there is rarely sufficient load-bearing capacity, so the vehicle may topple onto its side or even roll right over at higher speeds.”
Scania’s safety system uses a range of sensors to determine when its fitted airbags should be instantaneously deployed in a collision.
The new generation Scania range will be unveiled 23 August.
