Dr Air Brake: transforming urban safety with ReverseSmart
Doctor Air Brake’s safety product portfolio includes ReverseSmart, a UK-manufactured radar auto-braking technology designed to help CV operators drive up compliance and operational efficiency, particularly in urban environments.
“The Health and Safety Executive’s guidance on workplace transport is unambiguous: employers must take all reasonably practicable steps to prevent accidents involving vehicles,” said Doctor Air Brake.
“The emphasis on risk assessment, safe systems of work, and appropriate equipment creates a clear framework within which technologies like ReverseSmart sit comfortably.
“Crucially, the system addresses the hierarchy of controls that underpins HSE thinking. Rather than relying solely on driver vigilance or procedural compliance – both subject to human error – radar auto-braking provides engineering controls that operate independently of individual performance.
“When a pedestrian enters the detection zone, the system responds regardless of whether the driver has been distracted by other operational demands.”
For operators running refuse collection vehicles, road sweepers or delivery fleets in pedestrianised areas, says the company, demonstrating that appropriate technological safeguards are deployed strengthens the compliance position considerably.
ReverseSmart is most valuable where traditional safety measures struggle, says Doctor Air Brake, including where drivers are operating in tight urban spaces – for example, refuse collection crews and operators of road sweepers.
While bin lorries navigating narrow alleyways face blind spots that cannot be fully eliminated by mirrors, sweeper drivers must monitor cleaning of the kerb line while simultaneously avoiding cyclists, pedestrians and other vehicles.
To help manage these risks, the radar sensor technology of ReverseSmart features programmable detection zones, which can be tailored to the configurations of individual vehicles. Braking functionality is adjustable so that vehicles are appropriately brought to a controlled stop.
“The forward-motion capability proves particularly valuable for sweeper operations,” said Doctor Air Brake.
“Below configurable speed thresholds, the system monitors ahead of the vehicle and intervenes if obstacles are detected – providing an additional safety layer during the precise, attention-demanding work of urban cleaning.
“A critical technical distinction sets ReverseSmart apart from cruder alternatives. The system applies pulsing service braking to achieve controlled stops, rather than engaging the park brake. This matters significantly for vehicle longevity; repeated park brake applications during normal operations can damage gearboxes and other drivetrain components.
“The manual override function recognises operational realities too. When drivers legitimately need to reverse close to buildings or obstacles, the system can be temporarily disabled before automatically reactivating after a preset period – typically 30 seconds.”
The company concluded: “The diagnostic capabilities, regulatory alignment, and operational benefits that systems like ReverseSmart deliver suggest that radar auto-braking is transitioning from optional enhancement to essential equipment.”
