Press Release
PRE-SAFE????????????????????
The PRE-SAFE???????????????????? pre-emptive occupant protection system that premiered in the S-Class in 2002 marked the beginning of a new era in vehicle safety at Mercedes-Benz. PRE-SAFE???????????????????? is a preventative system that recognises critical driving situations that could lead to an accident, and goes into action immediately to prepare both occupants and the vehicle for a possible collision by:
- Tightening the driver and front passenger seatbelts as a preventative measure.
- Putting the front passenger seat into a better position if it should be disadvantageously situated, and improving the angle of the backrest and seat cushion.
- Activating the electrically adjustable individual rear seats to improve the angle of the seat cushions.
- Automatically closing the sunroof if the vehicle is in danger of rolling over.
PRE-SAFE???????????????????? is able to prepare for an accident by combining elements of active and passive safety to create a synergy that is unique in the world to date: PRE-SAFE???????????????????? is networked to the ABS anti-lock braking system, Brake Assist and the Electronic Stability Program (ESP?), all of whose sensors can recognize dangerous driving manoeuvres and send the corresponding data within seconds to the control units for these standard safety systems. Mercedes-Benz uses this sensor data for its preventative occupant protection system. In future, PRE-SAFE???????????????????? will be outfitted with additional features for preventing accidents, including a system for autonomous or semi-autonomous braking in critical situations.
In future, Mercedes-Benz will further develop PRE-SAFE???????????????????? into an even more versatile system and create a direct link between active and passive safety ?????????????????????????????????????? in other words, between accident prevention and occupant protection. For example, Mercedes engineers are now working on a radar-assisted sensor system that will monitor the immediate area in front of and on the side of the vehicle up to a distance of approximately 30 metres. This future PRE-SAFE???????????????????? technology will be able to autonomously sense danger and then act in a pre-emptive manner. If, for example, it appears that the vehicle is about to collide into the car in front of it, the system will not only tighten the seatbelts but also prepare the brakes for engagement. This means that as soon as the driver hits the brake pedal, the brake pressure needed for the situation at hand will be made available. This can significantly reduce braking distance.
In further development stages, the short-distance radar will serve as the basis for an autonomous PRE-SAFE???????????????????? braking system that will automatically engage in situations when the only way to prevent an accident or mitigate its consequences for occupants is by making an emergency stop.
A recent study conducted by Mercedes engineers shows that Brake Assist also makes an effective contribution towards preventing accidents involving pedestrians. This study had 55 drivers take part in a test at a driving simulator in Berlin. While driving through a town at a speed of 50 kilometres per hour, the test subjects would suddenly see a child run in front of the car from the left side. An emergency stop was the only way to avoid an accident here. The results of the test showed that drivers whose cars were equipped with Brake Assist caused significantly fewer accidents than drivers without the system, with the accident rate dropping by 26 percentage points.
The focus here is on children and teenagers. Among other things, DaimlerChrysler and Mercedes-Benz are involved in traffic safety instruction programmes at various schools. They also support the establishment of regional traffic safety training centres and produce CDs and videos to help out with instruction. DaimlerChrysler also developed the international "Mobile Kids" project especially for children between the ages of eight and 12. The programme teaches children about the dangers on roads in an entertaining manner, and also trains them to be more attentive when on bicycles or skateboards, or simply walking.
PRE-SAFE????????????????????: Preventative safety system to include short-distance radar in future
The PRE-SAFE???????????????????? preventative occupant protection system, which was also developed on the basis of knowledge gained through accident research, makes it possible for the first time to prepare the vehicle and its occupants for an impending accident just seconds before it occurs. In such a situation, the system automatically tightens the front seatbelts and places the front passenger and separate rear seats into an optimum position. It also closes the sunroof if it senses that the vehicle is about to roll over. "PRE-SAFE???????????????????? heralds a new era of vehicle safety," says Weber. Brake lights: Blinking lights as an effective warning signal to prevent rear collision
For some time now, Mercedes safety engineers have been focusing on the high number of rear-end collisions that occur, which is why they have developed a technology alongside PRE-SAFE??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????s sensor system that can be quickly implemented in all vehicles and thus help to counteract the trend: Blinking brake lights, which in the form of a red, blinking warning signal instead of conventional stop lights can reduce a driver??????????????????????????????????????s braking reaction time by up to 0.2 seconds, according to tests conducted by Mercedes engineers. This translates, for example, into an approximately 4.4-metre reduction of the braking distance for a car travelling at 80 kilometres per hour ?????????????????????????????????????? something which would lead to much greater safety in dense traffic. The study conducted by the Mercedes engineers also revealed that switching on the warning signal in dangerous situations has only a minor effect on a driver??????????????????????????????????????s reaction time. Brake Assist: Technology that helps prevent accidents involving pedestrians
Brake Assist, which Mercedes-Benz was the first carmaker to introduce in 1996, has also proven to be an effective instrument for accident prevention. The system supports drivers who engage the brakes quickly enough but not hard enough in dangerous situations by ensuring maximum braking deceleration at lightning speed. Commitment: Worldwide initiatives for better protection of risk-prone groups
Within the framework of their holistic philosophy regarding greater road safety, DaimlerChrysler and the Mercedes-Benz brand are also committed to helping protect risk-prone groups and providing additional training for drivers. In the Global Road Safety Partnership, for example, DaimlerChrysler and the World Bank are working together to reduce the increasing number of traffic accidents that occur in emerging markets and developing countries.
