TROY, MI — The University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) has released a study finding current collision mitigation systems (CMS) can reduce fatalities by 24 percent and 23 percent in injuries; what’s more is that in future-generation CMS that number is as high as a 57 percent reduction in fatalities and 56 percent in injuries.

The UMTRI study, published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), used Meritor WABCO’s OnGuard CMS to conduct tests and to evaluate results.

As mentioned, the current generation of technology could reduce fatalities by 24 percent and injuries by 23 percent in rear-end collisions. Next generation CMS would see this number rise to a 44 percent reduction in fatalities and 46 percent in injuries, while future-generation tech would see those numbers above 55 percent.

The study also finds that assuming all straight trucks and tractor-semitrailers use CMS, there would be a combined economic savings of $1.4 billion in current technology; $2.6 billion in next-gen tech and $3.1 billion for future-generation CMS.

A fleet without CMS is 2.26 times more likely to the striking truck in a rear-end crash than those with the system, according to the study.

The next generation of CMS technology will see an 89 percent improvement over the systems currently available. How come? Because the next-gen will be able to react to stationary vehicles.

“NHTSA’s proactive approach to provide substantive data to support informed decisions on safety technologies, including CMS, is highly beneficial for the industry,” said Jon Morrison, president and general manager Meritor WABCO.