Two Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems managers were part of an industry panel that met recently with legislators and regulators on Capitol Hill to discuss tax credit legislation that would apply to vehicle stability systems, collision warning systems, lane departure warning systems, and brake stroke monitoring systems, according to Bendix information.
Scott Burkhart, vice-president, controls and modules group, and Fred Andersky, electronics marketing manager, noted the effect the legislation, if enacted, could have on the safety of America’s highways. Introduced in October 2007, HR 3820 would provide a tax credit equal to 50 percent of the cost of a qualifying commercial vehicle safety system. The panel’s presentations and targeted meetings provided information about the importance of the safety technologies for which the act would provide incentives.
Burkhart and Andersky were part of the panel that was assembled by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA). A part of the Motor Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA), the alliance selected leaders from key technology providers to represent the industry on the panel. The group met with members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure and Ways and Means committees, the Senate Commerce and Finance committees, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
During the Capitol Hill meetings, the Bendix representatives highlighted the benefits of two safety technologies that could be covered by the bill, electronic stability control and adaptive cruise control. Bendix has continuously supported the study and adoption of electronic stability control, also known as full-stability technology. Full-stability systems address both roll and directional stability and provide protection against rollovers on the widest variety of driving and road conditions, including wet, snowy, and ice-covered surfaces, according to the Bendix information.