KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Eaton Corporation, the makers of VORAD Collision Warning Systems, have announced it will sponsor the awards dinner at the annual conference of the American Trucking Associations’ Safety & Loss Prevention Management Council (S&LPMC) in Miami Oct. 7.

At the dinner, S&LPMC will announce the winners of its top two awards – Driver of the Year and Safety Director of the Year.

“These are among the two most prestigious safety awards in the trucking industry, and demonstrates the council’s genuine interest in advancing safety,” said Eaton’s Jeffrey Barylak, global marketing manager for the VORAD product line.

“Because we are equally committed to safety, we decided to show our support for the council and its members for their hard work in advancing safety.”

Barylak added that the results from recent case studies involving North American fleets equipped with collision warning systems are effectively demonstrating the safety and related benefits of VORAD systems. Among the findings:

* Accidents were reduced by more than 85 per cent in one study that monitored nine fleets with 1,992 VORAD-equipped trucks that traveled in excess of 205 million miles.

* In five cases, accident reductions of 100 per cent were realized in that same study.

* A truckload carrier with 26 per cent of its fleet equipped with VORAD products generated an accident rate of 0.153 per million miles travelled, while vehicles without the products in the same fleet had an accident rate of 0.527 per million miles travelled.

* The study further revealed significant improvements in driver performance, as well as substantial reductions in liability and other costs associated with accidents.

“More and more fleets are beginning to take notice of these dramatic results,” said Barylak.

“Many of these same customers are also discovering that VORAD products can be much more than a safety system. It’s also giving them a real competitive advantage.”

As part of its awards dinner sponsorship, Eaton also will be presenting attendees with commemorative souvenirs to further recognize the members’ commitment to safety.

Eaton markets a complete VORAD Collision Warning System that includes forward and side radar sensors to detect objects and vehicles in the vehicle’s intended path that may pose a hazard.

In-cab display units with a series of warning lights and audible tones are used to warn the driver of the presence of these objects and vehicles.

These warnings give the driver added time to take any necessary action to avoid a collision.

VORAD systems are also available with the optional SmartCruise adaptive cruise control that helps maintain safe distances between vehicles. Accident recording, reconstruction and fleet information management systems are also available. For more information on VORAD Collision Warning Systems, visit www.VORAD.com.