General Motors vrea ca masinile sa nu porneasca daca nu ai centura pusa

Indiferent de ce ar mai nascoci producatorii de masini in domeniul sigurantei, ca e vorba de senzori, frana automata cu radar, avertizari sonore si vizuale pentru situatii de urgenta, faza lunga automata, airbaguri pentru pietoni si asa mai departe, in continuare, chiar si dupa mai bine de 80 de ani de la inventarea ei, centura de siguranta ramane si azi cel mai eficient mijloc de siguranta care salveaza vieti in masina.

Dincolo de ocean, in Statele Unite, cei de la NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) duc o campanie agresiva pentru purtarea centurii de siguranta. Campania se numeste Click It or Ticket, adica pune-ti centura sau iei amenda, si isi propune sa creasca procentul actual de 87% la 100% soferi care circula cu automobilul purtand centura de siguranta. In acest context, General Motors vrea sa contribuie la siguranta rutiera cu un nou sistem inedit.

GM a declarat ca va incepe punerea in vanzare a unor vehicule care se vor vinde in flote mici chiar de la finele acestui an, masini dotate cu un sistem special care nu ii va permite soferului sa plece cu masina de pe loc daca nu are centura pusa, el, dar si pasagerul din dreapta. Sistemul are un senzor ca cel acustic, ce va bloca transmisia cutiei automate in Park. Adica motorul va porni, insa automobilul nu se va putea deplasa. Cand centurile din fata sunt cuplate, senzorul deblocheaza transmisia si soferul poate pleca.

Acest sistem va fi pus in masinile de flota care se vor vinde incepand cu acest an mai mult pentru testare. Iar de anul viitor, GM va vinde modelele Chevrolet Cruze, Chevrolet Colorado si Silverado, dar si GMC Sierra cu sistemul oferit optional. Se pare ca pentru anul viitor, sistemul va functiona diferit: nu va permite motorului sa mearga daca toti pasagerii nu au montata centura de siguranta.

"Vom debuta cu acest sistem pe un numar restrans de automobile destinate flotelor, iar daca vom avea un raspuns pozitiv si sistemul isi demonstreaza eficienta si este apreciat de NHTSA, il vom oferi incepand cu anul viitor pe o gama larga de vehicule" spune Jennifer Ecclestone, purtatorul de cuvant General Motors.

Sistemul este unul inedit si semana cu proiectele care propuneau masini cu senzori de alcool. Adica daca senzorul sismtea in respiratia soferului vapori de alcool, nu lasa masina sa porneasca si o imobiliza. Urmeaza sa vedem daca aceste inovatii in domeniul sigurantei se vor dovedi eficiente si daca nu doar americanii le vor adopta. Nu este rau ca aceste sisteme sa-si faca simtita prezenta si in Romania, o tara in care purtarea centurii de siguranta, desi obligatorie prin lege, este adoptata de numai 4 din 10 soferi.

Pentru mai multe detalii, cititi comunicatul oficial in limba engleza:

GM and OnStar Aim to Help Buckle Up America
NHTSA's 'Click it or Ticket' campaign opens amid rise in unbelted deaths

DETROIT – The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's 'Click it or Ticket' public safety campaign opens this year amid the first increase in fatalities in five years for unrestrained passenger vehicle occupants.

General Motors and OnStar are joining in the effort to get people to buckle up whenever they're in a vehicle.

According to NHTSA, wearing a seat belt is the single most effective way to reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes. The Click It or Ticket enforcement mobilization aims to continue to help raise the national seat belt use rate beyond the estimated 87 percent in 2013.

In support of the Click it or Ticket campaign, GM is announcing plans to launch a new Belt Assurance System on select fleet vehicles later this year. This belt assurance system was developed by GM to help ensure the driver and right front passenger are belted prior to the vehicle being driven. This system does not allow shifting from "park" until the driver and right front seat belts are buckled.

"Customer safety is on the forefront of everything we do. It is essential for the safety of our customers' and all drivers' safety to develop the habit of buckling up each and every time they get into their vehicles," said Jeff Boyer, vice president, GM global vehicle safety. "We continue to support this program by NHTSA to remind our drivers to buckle up each time they start their vehicles while also developing other safety features like our Belt Assurance System."

According to NHTSA, seat belts saved an estimated 12,174 people from dying in 2012. From 2008 – 2012 seat belts saved nearly 63,000 lives.

OnStar will be supporting the effort by reminding subscribers who press the blue OnStar button for non-emergency requests to "Remember to stay buckled up." The reminder will take place throughout the duration of NHTSA's Click it or Ticket campaign today through June 1.

General Motors applauds the efforts of law enforcement officers and safety officials who are mobilizing across the nation May 19 through June 1 to enforce safety belt use laws in order to save lives and prevent injuries, Boyer said.