Thomas Built Buses is now offering a collision mitigation system available as a factory-installed option on some of its buses.

The school bus manufacturer's parent company, Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA), announced on Thursday in a news release that the WABCO OnGuardACTIVE collision mitigation system from ZF is now available for Saf-T-Liner C2 diesel school buses equipped with air disc brakes. OnGuardACTIVE is a radar-based collision mitigation system that enables collision warning, active braking, and adaptive cruise control.

Using forward-looking, long-range radar to detect objects up to 650 feet ahead of a school bus, the collision mitigation system provides audible, haptic, and visual warnings intended to alert drivers to possible obstructions, according to DTNA. The system is designed to detect a potential rear-end collision without the driver taking action to decelerate and to engage active braking to automatically throttle down the engine, and if necessary, to apply the foundation brakes to help avoid an impending collision.

Similarly, the adaptive cruise control feature of the system uses the same radar to assist drivers in maintaining a safe following distance. The system maintains the set cruising speed when the lane ahead is clear and is designed to automatically adjust the speed to maintain a set time interval between the bus and other vehicles ahead, according to DTNA.

“This advanced technology further enhances the safety of our buses and provides drivers added peace of mind,” said Caley Edgerly, president and CEO of Thomas Built Buses.

In addition to the safety features it offers, the OnGuardACTIVE system can also be seamlessly integrated into telematics and monitoring systems so fleet managers can gain additional perspective on driving performance. Upon delivery, fleet managers and drivers will receive tailored driver training to better understand the system’s capabilities.

While OnGuardACTIVE is designed to help drivers mitigate collisions, this technology does not replace the need for safe drivers practicing safe driving habits, DTNA noted in the news release. To reduce the potential danger of injuries caused during OnGuard activated vehicle decelerations, the driver and front-seat passengers should always be correctly seated with their seat belts properly fastened.

Customers can contact their local Thomas Built Buses dealer for more information on the OnGuardACTIVE collision mitigation system.