How ADAS helps truck drivers stay safe and drive efficiently

Professional truck drivers have a demanding job. Not only do they need to drive a fully loaded truck for the better part of the day, but they must do so as quickly and efficiently as possible while keeping themselves and their cargo safe on the road.

Thankfully, there is technology to make their drive more comfortable and more efficient: ADAS. This stands for advanced driver-assistance systems and, much like the experience of this German truck driver shows, this technology gives drivers peace of mind and helps the vehicle save fuel. It does so by accurately anticipating the road at hand and ahead.

Around the world today, over one million SAE Level 1 and Level 2 automated vehicles use the TomTom ADAS Map – both private and commercial. Having doubled in less than one year, this number is bound to rise in the future. As more and more automated vehicles hit the road, how does this technology work?

Let’s have a look at the TomTom ADAS Map.

A highly accurate map for driver assistance

There are two main benefits for automated commercial vehicles equipped with a TomTom ADAS Map: comfort and fuel efficiency.

The ADAS Map integrates with in-vehicle control systems to pro-actively adapt speed and gear shifting. This is called predictive powertrain control (PPC). Such technology increases drivers’ comfort as they don’t have to worry about shifting gears and can focus on other tasks. It also helps them avoid braking abruptly or gaining speed when driving uphill.

PPC leverages six types of information within the map: road gradient, road curvature, curvature at junctions, lanes at junctions, traffic signs and speed restrictions.

When a vehicle uses the TomTom ADAS Map, the combination of these six elements increases comfort and decreases fuel consumption. The result is a tangible impact to the bottom line: vehicles using the TomTom ADAS Map have proven to achieve up to 5% fuel savings.

Driver assistance increases safety while driving

As control starts moving from the driver to the vehicle, data that aids decision-making on the road is essential to a safer ride.

More advanced ADAS use cases, such as highway assist, combine adaptive cruise control with lane keeping assist. By controlling acceleration, coasting, braking and steering, the map helps determine the right speed for the vehicle.

Due to the way these features work together to support a safer driving experience, using the TomTom ADAS Map can also help automakers achieve higher Euro NCAP ratings.

Driver assistance optimizes fuel consumption

For some businesses, success depends on meeting delivery times while minimizing costs.

The eco-routing, range calculation and PPC use cases of the TomTom ADAS Map help vehicles plan the most efficient route and optimize powertrain efficiency.