MB leads in automotive safety with braking technology
Mercedes Benz leads in automotive safety with their braking technology. Systems developed by the company have been helping improve road safety for many years now. In fact they also see a brighter future due to their endless efforts in developing new technologies that would make driving safer.
“Several years ago, we introduced PRE-SAFE, which gave the vehicle certain ‘reflexes,’ so to speak,” says Dr. Thomas Weber, Daimler Chrysler 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.”
PRE-SAFE is just one of their innovations in braking systems. It is actually the successor of the Brake Assist (BAS) system, which Mercedes Benz began offering in 1996. It has proved to be a very effective technology for preventing accidents. After BAS was introduced as a 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. It was also Mercedes Benz who first used this type of braking technology in their vehicles.
It has been reported that 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 said to be 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.
The era of the “seeing” car actually began in 2005 when the Mercedes-Benz’ BRAKE ASSIST PLUS (BAS PLUS) system was introduced. BAS PLUS and PRE-SAFE utilize radar sensors that measure the distance to the vehicle ahead, which are able to recognize an impending rear-end collision. BAS PLUS warns drivers of the danger and then immediately makes the braking pressure required for the situation at hand available. While, the PRE-SAFE Brake intervenes if an accident is close by braking the vehicle if the driver has not reacted to the prior warning noted by the system. This autonomous partial braking maneuver significantly reduces the impact speed should a collision still occur, whereby the system acts as an “electronic crumple zone” that offers vehicle occupants additional protection. A test conducted by the German Automobile Club (ADAC) shows that the PRE-SAFE Brake reduces the stresses vehicle occupants are exposed to in accidents by up to 45 percent.
Mercedes engineers are currently testing the second stage of the PRE-SAFE Brake, which involves initiating an automatic emergency braking maneuver if a collision becomes unavoidable. This will lead to a further substantial reduction of impact energy.