TORONTO, Ont. – Bendix has made some enhancements to its XVision collision avoidance system, which were demonstrated for the first time at Truck World.

The night-vision system, which Bendix says gives drivers an additional 11 seconds reaction time, now features a flat screen panel display as well as a second camera providing views of behind and beside the truck.

The new side and rear camera also features the added bonus of audio benefits, allowing the driver to receive instructions from someone outside the vehicle while backing up.

“The new rear and side vision camera is great for changing lanes, blind spots and obviously backing up,” says Jeff Knapton, director of merchandising for Bendix.

The flat panel display weighs less than the original monitor, and provides a clearer image.

The system is gaining in popularity both north and south of the border, especially in Northern Alberta’s oilpatch where trucks often operate in the dark. Northern Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick have also proven to be hot markets for the technology, Knapton says.

“Canada tends to be an early adaptor of safety products,” says Knapton. “It’s done really well up here.”

The system detects heat and displays any heat-generating items on a screen mounted in the truck cab. Whether it’s a moose on the highway or some mischievous teenagers standing on an overpass, a driver using the Bendix XVision system is able to identify the object and respond much sooner, the company says.

In fact, a recent human factors study has verified the company’s field data and confirmed the system provides an extra 11 seconds of reaction time.

For more information about the Bendix XVision system, call 800-247-2725 or visit www.bendix.com.