According to Rostra Precision Controls, the following testimonials come from fleet owners and managers who use its RearSentry Obstacle Sensing System. The department of public works for the city of Gaffney, S.C., says it has installed approximately 35 RearSentry systems on its fleet which includes everything from pickups to dump trucks, and also has plans to retrofit the rest of its truck fleet. "We had three backing accidents in two months in just the meter-reader department alone," said John Todd, fleet manager. "We haven't had any backing accidents since we installed the Rostra RearSentry almost a year ago. The maintenance crew now has the installation down to an art (about 45 minutes), and is putting the RearSentry on just as fast as they can get the city's vehicles into the shop." "We have realized the importance of this product and it will now be specified on all of our new vehicles," added Dennis Hardin, general manager. Paul Damron, fleet manager for the city of High Point, N.C., says he initially purchased the RearSentry to reduce (if not totally eliminate) the backing accidents by the city's street sweepers. The cost of backing accidents by the sweepers became such a problem that the drivers were ordered to go around the block, rather than back up, but sometimes that could not be done. "I am really glad to get a rugged rear obstacle sensing system that holds up in our rough environment, and that the sweeper drivers can actually hear above the other noises of the equipment," Damron said. "We are looking for a significant reduction in our backing accident costs and exposures, and will consider putting the RearSentry product on trash haulers and other equipment as well." Mike Horn, fleet manager for the city of Greenville, S.C., says he sees very clear benefits to using the Rostra RearSentry. The city of Greenville has a risk management department, which is responsible for paying the insurance bills and settling accidents, and Horn's job is to review new products that the city can use to help prevent the risk management department from paying those settlements. "We have tested and evaluated the Rostra RearSentry, and we are very satisfied with its safety and accident prevention features," Horn said. "Since I am most concerned about the 'potential' of serious accidents, we will be installing the product initially on passenger vans. We will then go to other pieces of equipment ranging from bucket trucks to street sweepers, and maybe even some of the law enforcement equipment. I want to make sure that the city fleet is as safety-outfitted as we can make it." But it's not just city service fleets that are using the RearSentry. Several corporations also have outfitted their truck fleets with the product with positive results: Time Warner Cable of Englewood, CO, said it reviewed a number of obstacle sensing systems in order to develop a reasonable, cost effective solution to reduce personal and property insurance claim exposures, according to Karen E. Ber, manager, fleet and safety, Time Warner Cable. "We are very pleased that the Rostra RearSentry microwave radar system could meet our specification requirements," Ber said. "We are very satisfied with the results obtained thus far and see the RearSentry as a viable solution to substantially reduce our fleet's backing accidents. The Rostra staff of technical experts and the personnel from its distributor have created a professional team for information, customer support and installation expertise." Vic Vickers, fleet manager for Gold Kist Inc., based in Atlanta, reports that the RearSentry has performed well in the company's Pompano Beach, FL, operation. "The true test of the effectiveness of the product is how many accidents have happened after the product was installed - ZERO! So it must be working," he said. "We also know of at least one accident that was prevented when a car pulled in behind one of our company trucks, and the RearSentry picked up the car as the truck started backing up. The Rostra RearSentry has the full support of our director of risk management." Vickers added that the RearSentry is now specified on all new vehicles in the company's fleet. According to Charles W. Jones III, regional sales manager, Rostra Precision Controls, Inc., other fleets using the Rostra RearSentry include: Delta Airlines and the cities of Augusta, GA, and Richmond County, GA, which have specified the product for all new vehicles; Buckhead Beef, a full retrofit of the entire fleet; Cobb County, GA, specified on all new school buses; South Carolina Department of Transportation, South Carolina Electric and Gas and a variety of other municipalities and businesses. Rostra Precision Controls, headquartered in Laurinburg, North Carolina, is a supplier of vehicle speed control systems, transmission components and vehicle comfort seating systems to the global automotive aftermarket industry. The company also is a manufacturer of electronic controls, systems and components for the original equipment automotive industry. It holds ISO 9001 and QS 9000 certifications. For more information, call Rostra's customer service at 1-800-782-3379, or visit Rostra's Web site at www.rostra.com.