Interview with Sam Burman, Chief Technology Officer, Ashok Leyland

What will be the implications of the ABS notification on Ashok Leyland?
ABS has already been mandated for certain important vehicle categories and any further additions of vehicle categories for fitting ABS will impact not only Ashok Leyland but all commercial vehicle manufacturers.

How many Ashok Leyland buses and trucks are already fitted with the ABS and can existing vehicles also be retrofitted?
Right from October 1, 2006, ABS has been mandated for certain vehicle categories like trucks carrying hazardous goods, M2 buses plying in hilly areas, buses with All-India permits and the like and all such vehicles from Ashok Leyland are fitted with ABS.

Among the new category of vehicles, which will be the starters for the ABS?
All new vehicles for which ABS is mandated will be fitted with the same.

Will advantages far outweigh costs?
Data collected from foreign countries reveal that ABS helps during sudden braking on wet, slippery and dusty terrains. With the quality of roads across the country improving, speeds will increase and ABS could be effective on Indian roads where there are always sudden intrusions of pedestrians, animals, carts, cycles, etc. Price of the fitment will be a major consideration for the customer.

Will ABS dominate as an OE fitment or will it also be retrofitted in the aftermarket?
Presently, as per CMVR, ABS is fitted on all mandated vehicle categories as an OE fitment though ABS is also offered as an optional fitment to customers for vehicles that are not covered by the mandate.

Will the ABS notification help bring down accident fatalities?
The efficacy of any technology needs to be studied with special emphasis on the situation it is meant to be used in. ABS has proven to be an effective safety device especially when used at high speeds, in snow or in ice conditions and its effectiveness still needs to be evaluated in the Indian context. SHOBHA MATHUR