BMW Group Malaysia Demonstrates its Technology and Capabilities for Safety at the BMW Active Safety Showcase

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There is an exhibition in Sunway Pyramid and if BMW (and biking) is your poison, it’s worth your while to head there from the 9^th of October to 12^th of October 2014. Situated at the Blue Oval center court,  the objective of this exhibit is to create greater awareness for the importance of Active Safety in cars and motorcycles.

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The emphasis on safety has never been more prevalent, considering the rise of road traffic accidents in the country year on year and Malaysians should seek and urge for safety technologies in their vehicles to make them safer. Did you know that Malaysia is listed as the 17^th most dangerous country in the world for road users with 30 fatalities per 100, 000 individuals. The study by the University of Michigan listed study also highlighted that Malaysia is second only to Thailand in terms of road fatalities in the South East Asian Region. Further to this study, the World Health Ranking 2011 ranked Malaysia at number 20 in terms of countries with the most death caused by road accidents. The Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) recently cited that an average of 18 people are killed on Malaysian roads on a daily basis and this figure is predicted to rise to 29 people by the year 2020. The percentage of killed and seriously injured motorist have also increased dramatically by 80% from the year 2001 to 2013, further demonstrating the seriousness of the need for road safety in the country.

 

The BMW Active Safety showcase is primarily a bike exhibit and will demonstrate the BMW Group’s “Safety 360°” principle which outlines the importance of the Vehicle, Technology and Equipment as well as Training in ensuring safety on the road.

 

BMW Safety 360°: riding fun starts with a sense of safety.

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The BMW Motorrad “Safety 360º” principle adopts a universal perspective and breaks down the topic into three facets – safety technology in the vehicle itself, safety derived from rider equipment, as well as safety derived from rider training. Centering around this is the implementation of ABS as a safety standard (and you think it was only on things on four wheels?). ABS prevents wheel locking and therefore allows the motorcycle to be within complete control of its rider even when full force of braking power is applied.  Whenever the system senses that a wheel is locked or almost locked, it momentarily reduces the brake force, allowing the wheel to rotate in a controlled way. This precise regulation of the braking pressure on the individual wheels ensures that the motorcycle can always be steered easily regardless of the road surface’s friction coefficient and the applied brake pressure. All these are done with such remarkable speed and smoothness that both braking and steering are simultaneously effective throughout the braking process.

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BMW Motorrad was the first to mass produce motorcycles with ABS and with its introduction of the world’s first motorcycle serial production with this technology, ABS has since remained as the most effective safety assistance system for safer motorcycling. Not only was it the first to fit ABS on its bike on a large scale, it was also the first manufacturer in the world to equip ALL of its new models with ABS as standard in 2013. Additionally, BMW Motorrad has also created traction slip control systems such as Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), which works with banking position measurements to make extreme braking maneuvers safer. In addition to comparing the rotational speeds of the front and rear wheels via the ABS sensors, the sensor box is made available to determine the motorcycle’s banking angle as an additional parameter. As you can see in a video HERE on how the ABS works on a wet patch of road, performing an emergency braking under such conditions (such as trying to avoid a vehicle that came out of a corner without see you approach) may result in loss of control if ABS hadn’t been equipped.

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It was quite an eye opener seeing how the BMW HP4 doing launch control (revs are held at 8,000rpm) on said wet roads. You’d be wheel-spinning if not for the DTC. Video HERE

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BMW Apparels and Accessories

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On display are BMW Motorrad System helmets which has an Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) inner shell made of foamed polystyrene with varying material densities and can be adapted to individual ergonomic needs by means of various cheek and neck pads. All BMW Motorrad helmets also have an additional neck strap which keeps the helmet securely in place and features an integrated sun visor and dual visor as standard.

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You’ll also find rider suits, jackets and trousers according to BMW Motorrad’s own seal of quality, “Concept of Advance Rider Equipment” (C.A.R.E.). An all-weather suit such as the BMW Motorrad’s TourShell which was designed to be wind and waterproof increases a rider’s safety as it is made from highly abrasion-resistant material, preventing the upper material from absorbing too much water thus reducing the weight of the suit. BMW Motorrad suits are also designed with flexible, removable NP protectors with excellent damping properties, a removable, quilted thermal inner jacket as well as safety-optimised boots and gloves. BMW Motorrad also developed the Neck Brace System as part of its extensive range of rider equipment which perfectly supports passive riding safety.

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BMW Active Safety: precise suspension control, driving control systems and driver assistance systems.

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For those who prefer vehicles, the BMW Active Safety also highlights the benefits of a wide range of existing measures and technologies such as those in BMW cars. These features include precise suspension control, driving control systems and driver assistance systems, all which contribute to superior driving safety. Everything from the car’s chassis, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) and Active Steering are all designed to work in sync in providing examplary driving qualities while maintaining the highest standards of safety

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Apart from the constant enhancement of active safety systems, BMW also places much emphasis on offering the driver behind the wheel with the right kind of training and practice. More than 30 years ago, BMW implemented the BMW Driver Training program to provide a truly safe experience of sheer driving pleasure by teaching the driver how to behave at the wheel; how to understand and appreciate the limits to technology; how to hone his or her driving skills; as well as how to identify, avoid and handle hazards. The BMW Driver Training program has been an annual event in Malaysia since the year 2007. Each year, BMW Group Malaysia organises six programs of the BMW Advanced Driver Training program and one program of the BMW Intensive Driver Training program in the country.

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“We at BMW have always put great significance on road safety in terms of technology and training. To this day, every single safety system in our cars is examined and is developed by BMW engineers – most of which often take on pioneering roles. Nevertheless, there is still great potential for further development in active safety systems as supreme safety of the highest standard should be a natural asset for any carmaker,” said Ambi.

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