1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140 
Radar love
Page 46
Page 47
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
DAF has kitted out the CF and the XF105 with new interiors and packed them full of the latest electronic gadgets. The first of these is Adaptive Cruise Control with Forward Collision Warning. We gets to grips with the new gizmo.
Words: lep van der Meer We recently had the opportunity to drive the CF85.460, one of the first DAF trucks with a new interior and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) system installed.
On the outside, a small change to the shape of the lower centre grille indicates that ACC is present. Behind that extra bit of plastic is the radar sensor for the system. It's a nice design, and it certainly looks better than a radar eye on one side of the grille.
The reason for our ride with the new DAF CF is the new interior. DAF was very keen on having the latest version for CM's annual cab test, so we had to bring a truck over from Eindhoven.
The interior looks fresh with the new colour scheme and curtains as well as the seats with embossed fabrics. In the night, we found the new curtains, complete with a double layer, are very good at keeping light out of the cab.
Keep your distance
The trip from Eindhoven to Nuneaton was a nice opportunity to test the ACC system. The distance between the truck and the one it is following is easy to adjust with the flick of a dedicated switch. With another switch, the ACC can be turned off entirely. It is engaged automatically when the cruise control is used, but in some situations you won't want the ACC working — for example if you are in heavy traffic around towns and cities. Too much vehicular movement around the truck could cause the system to brake when you don't want it. The ACC system is better on longer distances.
Most accidents involving trucks are head to tail, and that is where ACC comes into its own. When a vehicle that has overtaken your truck slots back in front, and if it is moving faster than you are, then the ACC does not react. However, if the vehicle slows down to the same speed you are moving at, the ACC system will adjust yours to make sure there is a safe gap between you and the vehicle in front. Additionally, when someone pulls in and brakes, the truck also hits the brakes.
Smooth operator DAF only sells ACC in combination with a gearbox intarder (retarder) and that makes sense. The system releases the throttle, then uses the engine brake and retarder. When that is not enough, the brakes are applied. By using all these systems, the DAF is able to take the speed off smoothly.
Another system that comes with ACC is Forward Collision Warning (FCW). This becomes active when
another vehicle is about to take a right turn but stops halfway across the other side of the road. On our journey, this happened and we just steered around it, but the warning light and alarm indicated the danger. In CM'S opinion, that was proof that this system can really contribute to road safety.
On the right track
The CF Spacecab has more safety options, such as the Lane Guard system and a blindspot camera system.
It also has a 'Snooper' satellite navigation system from the DAF accessories brochure .The driver fills in the size and weight of his truck: the system then navigates with that input and avoids low bridges and narrow streets.
DAFs decision to offer ACC with Forward Collision Wanting only in combination with a retarder is quite understandable. Only with a retarder could you get the smooth operation that we found in the DAF. Having a system like this, however, does come at a price.
The ACC/FCW system on an XF or CF costs 0,070 in the UK, and on top of that, there is an extra £4,400 for the retarder. But as an operator, you should be asking: what price for safety? One thing is for sure — when demand for these systems rises, the cost is likely to drop. I