NEWS
Third Generation SafeTRAC released
Latest generation lane departure / drowsy driver warning system offers more features at lower cost
Pittsburgh,
PA
– April 4th, 2005 – Assistware Technology, a pioneer in the field
of intelligent vehicle safety systems, today announced the release and
immediate availability of the latest version of SafeTRAC, the industry’s
first commercially available lane departure warning system. This new
release is the third generation of their revolutionary SafeTRAC product,
which is the only device to combine both lane departure and drowsy
driver warning into a single system.
“We are very excited about this latest release which has incorporated several customer-requested enhancements to our highly successful SafeTRAC product,” stated Mike Formica, CEO of Assistware. “Utilizing DFM (Design For Manufacturability) methodologies, we have greatly reduced the cost of SafeTRAC and improved its reliability. Further, we have restructured our supply chain, which has not only lowered costs, but provided us with significantly improved capacity and scalability as this market continues to grow.”
“The price-point for SafeTRAC makes it an attractive solution for fleets ranging in size single owner operators to fleets thousands of tractors. Volume pricing for end-users is under $1,000 and when you consider the costs associated with even a minor lane departure accident, SafeTRAC has an ROI (Return on Investment) of only a few months,” added Formica. “Of course, of inestimable benefit is the improved driver safety and capability to avoid a potentially fatal accident. Feedback from drivers has been overwhelmingly positive, and the majority feel that is has helped them to avoid a potential accident."
New features and options include:
Flexible packaging – available in on-dash, in-dash and embedded OEM configurations.
Driver data recorder – monitor short- and long-term driving performance, turn signal usage, number of departures, etc.
Event video recorder – capture video image of the road ahead just prior to and immediately after an accident.
‘Silence’ feature - enables operator to temporarily disable the unit when in a construction zone, or other area with poor lane markings.
Enhanced lane tracking algorithms – improve tracking accuracy reducing the already low number of false-alarms.
Password protection – allows fleet management to lockout certain convenience settings (volume, sensitivity, etc.) from being changed by the operator.
Transportation grade components - ensure reliable operation, and high availability even under the harsh conditions of a commercial truck.
SafeTRAC utilizes a small windshield mounted video camera to monitor the road ahead. It warns the driver if they begin to drift out of their lane without using their turn signal, and also provides a continuous ‘score’ of their driving performance. As a driver becomes fatigued or distracted, their score drops and SafeTRAC generates an alert recommending that he get rest. First-time installation typically takes approximately 30 minutes and requires no special tooling or training. SafeTRAC is available as an aftermarket product, or can be ordered with a new vehicle.
About Assistware Technology
AssistWare was founded in 1995 by researchers from Carnegie Mellon’s Robotics Institute with the goal of improving highway safety through a suite of driver assistance aids. In 1999, AssistWare introduced SafeTRAC making it the industry’s first commercially available Lane Departure Warning System. Today, SafeTRAC can be found on commercial truck and passenger vehicles worldwide. Assistware is committed to making the nation’s highways a safer place and will continue to introduce new products to support that goal.
For more information, visit: www.assistware.com or contact Mike Formica at 724-449-7235.
Assistware Technology l 724-449-SAFE (7233) l safetrac-sales@assistware.com