Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/328695
W hile an alert driver remains the most important safety feature of any vehicle, the new Model 579 can provide the driver with the resources and the environment necessary to help ensure safe arrival for both driver and cargo. According to Peterbilt Chief Engineer Landon Sproull, safety was top-of-mind when engineers began designing the innovative new Peterbilt. "As we met with and interviewed drivers and fleet owners about fea- tures they found most important in a new truck, we learned that safety was not only important to them for its own obvious merits, but that it was an important bottom-line component as well," says Sproull. "We learned it's not just about sim- ply reducing the frequency and sever- ity of accidents. Poor CSA scores cost fleets money as well, both directly and indirectly. "So we set out to build a truck that created an operating environment in which it was easy for the driver to make safe, smart decisions while operating the vehicle. And by giving it features such as standard front air disc brakes, safe entry and egress of the cab and optimized grab handles, we give them the tools to stay out of harm's way." Maximum visibility Perhaps no safety feature is as impor- tant to the driver as is his ability to see what surrounds him, and to that end, Peterbilt has engineered the cab of the Model 579 to provide maximum visibility from the driver's seat. Specifically, the brow of the dash has been positioned to provide an opti- mal sight angle from the driver's seat. And the dramatically sloped, contoured hood also maximizes the driver's sight angles. The wide, one-piece windshield optimizes sight lines as well, as do the A pillars, that have been minimized in thickness by 20 percent. Additionally, side mirrors are now larger than most found in the industry. Peterbilt has long been an innova- tor in forward-lighting technology, and Peterbilt engineers visited forward- lighting leaders in 10 countries in their quest to bring the best in headlamp technology to the Model 579. The result, produced by German company Hella, is headlamps and fog lamps that rank highest in down-road cover- age and overall light distribution, both of which are key factors in reducing driver eye fatigue. At low beam setting, the halogen headlamps produce 1,350 lumens and have a 2,000-hour burn time. High- intensity discharge lights deliver 3,200 lumens and offer a 3,000-hour burn time. Additionally, a passive venting sys- tem removes condensation from inside 16 l FIRST CLASS New Model 579 solidifies Peterbilt position as safety leader, innovator Safety Comes Standard HEADER Safety Enhancer Peterbilt's SmartNav™ system, an integrated infotainment system, provides real-time truck monitoring, hands-free Bluetooth ® con- nectivity and satellite radio. The innovative system also provides truck-specifc navigation cues, such as bridge clearances and road condition updates. Peterbilt is the first and only OEM to offer standard front air disc brakes, which are among the safety features of the new Peterbilt Model 579. MODEL 579 SAFETY