Automotive Faqs

Mercedes-Benz is improving their vehicles even more by adding a safety concept that everyone will want to hear about. Now that they have tackled the safety for all the passengers they have turned their focus onto anticipating and preventing accidents. That is why Mercedes is creating a new and intelligent driver assistance systems, which will use the stereo cameras and radar sensors that will monitor the surrounding area around the vehicle.

These systems also have the ability to make predictive interpretations of critical driving situations and then issue timely warnings to drivers, or even intervene autonomously if there is imminent danger. “Several years ago, we introduced PRE-SAFE, which gave the vehicle certain ‘reflexes,’ so to speak,” says Dr. Thomas Weber, DaimlerChrysler Board of Management member responsible for Group Research and Mercedes Car Group Development.

“In the future, we will also give cars the ability to ’see’ and ‘think.’ It’s always been a matter of policy for us to develop vehicles capable of withstanding the most severe crash tests. However, it makes much more sense to prevent accidents from occurring in the first place, which is exactly what we’re working on in the interest of all traffic participants.” In the future, Mercedes-Benz will continue to base the development of its safety systems on real-life accident statistics and data from its own accident research activities.

The focus here will be on intersections, sharp curves, and construction sites, as these locations are the site of approximately one-third of all serious accidents that occur in Germany. Other issues to be addressed in the development of new driver assistance systems include driver fatigue, speed, and lane departure, all of which are also among the most frequent causes of accidents. Mercedes-Benz will also further improve occupant protection through preventive measures and by networking active and passive safety systems.

Systems developed by Mercedes-Benz have been helping to improve road safety for many years now. The invention of ESP alone, which reduces the danger of skidding and makes it easier for drivers to handle critical situations has led to a sustained improvement in traffic safety. The most recent German accident statistics confirm that since ESP was introduced as standard equipment, Mercedes passenger cars have been involved in accidents much less frequently than models of other brands.

Since 1999, the share of driver-related collisions in all accidents involving newly registered Mercedes models has declined by more than 42 percent. Studies show that more than 20,000 accidents could be prevented each year in if all passenger cars were equipped with ESP. The Electronic Stability Program has now therefore joined seatbelts, airbags, and ABS as one of the most important safety systems in modern passenger cars. Still, only around 40 percent of all new cars in are currently equipped with this technology.

The Brake Assist (BAS) system, which Mercedes-Benz began offering in 1996 (the world’s first brand to do so), has also proved to be a very effective technology for preventing accidents. Following the introduction of BAS as standard equipment, the share of total accidents accounted for by rear-end collisions fell by eight percent for Mercedes vehicles, but remained nearly unchanged for all other brands. Brake Assist also led to a 13 percent reduction in the proportion of serious accidents involving pedestrians.

Mercedes-Benz will continue to base the development of its driver assistance systems on real-life accident statistics, and will utilize new technologies to focus more strongly on the phase immediately preceding an accident. The brand’s engineers are developing systems that monitor the area around the vehicle, warn drivers of potential dangers, and then support them if necessary. Such systems will also activate preventive occupant protection systems in critical situations.

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