Mercedes-Benz engineers have spent more than a half century devising safety improvements, from the invention of the crumple zone, to countless innovations in occupant protection and accident avoidance. Mercedes-Benz has pioneered safety technologies that often become standards across automakers.
This history of safety innovation continues today, with breakthroughs intended to make accidents less severe, less damaging, or even less likely. But, safety features can do more than provide protection. They can also improve the driver experience, while still providing superior driver protection.
The 2018 Mercedes-Benz model-year lineup features a plethora of standard safety features, which ensures that each vehicle is as safe as it is luxurious. Some of the standard safety features on the E-Class, C-Class, GLE, GLA, and CLA models include: PRE-SAFE, ATTENTION ASSIST, LED daytime running lamps, and electronic stability program.
Mining Data to Improve Safety
So how does Mercedes-Benz develop cutting edge safety features? It turns out data is a driving force.
Most people don’t think “safety” and “data” go hand-in-hand, but information collected about collisions can improve existing safety technology and fuel new developments. Mercedes-Benz places great importance on that data, so the company created the Mercedes-Benz Accident Investigation team, a special unit in Stuttgart, Germany, dedicated to gathering and evaluating information about collisions, such as impact speed and collision types.
The team was created based on the philosophy that the more the company knows about what happened, the better chance it has of inventing a way to help keep it from happening again.
The Mercedes-Benz Fleet Program: Luxury Meets Safety … and More
Every Mercedes-Benz vehicle is known for certain hallmarks: performance, endurance and, of course, safety. They give you the best value for your business.
The Mercedes-Benz Fleet Program also offers exclusive fleet incentives on the purchase or lease of Mercedes-Benz vehicles. In addition to incentive pricing, every vehicle comes with the following features:
- 24-hour Roadside Assistance
- 4-year/50,000-mile limited warranty
- Active and passive safety features
- Unmatched customer service
Mercedes-Benz also offers fuel efficient, environmentally conscious options for fleets, including hybrid and electric vehicles. And most importantly, Mercedes-Benz has some of the safest vehicles on the road. In fact, the company earned several honors in 2017:
- The 2017 Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan earned an IIHS Top Safety Pick
- The 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLE SUV was named an IIHS Top Safety Pick+, the agency’s most coveted safety rating
- The C-Class and E-Class won 5 Stars in NHTSA NCAP testing.
These vehicles are among the safest on the market, and are designed to return your drivers home safely each night.
Keeping Control
Sometimes the roads we take are not nearly as smooth as we’d like them to be. That’s why each vehicle in the Mercedes-Benz lineup comes equipped with Electronic Stability Program (ESP) as a standard feature for all MY18 Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
ESP identifies driving situations where the vehicle is not following its intended course and helps the driver to stabilize the vehicle. The technology achieves this by using a network of sensors in the vehicle that continually monitor how well the car carries out the driver’s actions. ESP compares the steering input of the driver to the speed of each wheel and the cars rotation, and it can sense if the vehicle is not following its intended course.
Preparing for an Accident Before it Happens
Drivers always wish they could be better prepared when an accident happens. With the Mercedes-Benz PRE-SAFE system that is available on the MY18 lineup, they can be. Similar to ESP, the vehicle uses a network of sensors, which allows PRE-SAFE to detect conditions like extreme skidding that suggest an accident is about to happen.
When those conditions occur, the system can take action. It tightens front seat belts. It adjusts the front head restraints and passenger seat. And, it even closes the windows and sunroof if they are open. All of these measures help better prepare the vehicle’s occupants so the vehicle’s restraint systems can work even better.
Curbing the Wild Wind
The road isn’t the only danger that can make a driver lose control of a vehicle. Crosswinds are a possible unexpected and dangerous phenomenon for the vehicle. That’s why Mercedes-Benz offers Crosswind Assist on each of its MY18 vehicles.
The technology detects sudden strong gusts of wind which can act on the side of the vehicle, and helps to prevent the car from “drifting” out of lane. Once it detects this, the vehicle targets braking on the opposite side of the vehicle, depending on the direction the crosswind is coming from.
Staying Alert
Whether it’s caused by a long drive or a short night’s sleep, driver fatigue can pose a serious safety risk. ATTENTION ASSIST — an industry first — helps detect and alert drivers to fatigue. In the first few minutes of a drive (used as a baseline for when the driver is still fresh and alert), ATTENTION ASSIST evaluates more than 70 parameters to get to know your unique driving style. This baseline is adjusted throughout the drive.
As you continue to drive, the system can detect certain steering corrections that suggest the onset of drowsiness. Unusual steering behaviors prompt it to consider a wide array of other factors, from crosswinds and road smoothness to how often the driver interacts with the vehicle’s controls and switches. If this analysis suggests driver fatigue, ATTENTION ASSIST sounds an alert that encourages the driver to stop for a rest.
Embracing Safety
Further bolstering Mercedes-Benz’ safety capabilities, the automaker is offering mbrace, which is a collection of services and features available for each vehicle. The collection includes a package that is specifically focused on safety and security and is compatible with all MY18 Mercedes-Benz models.
Indeed, the Safety and Security Package features capabilities that are designed to keep the driver safe while they are inside the car, and informed when they are not. Features of the mbrace Safety and Security Package include Automatic Collision Notification, which automatically places a call to the mbrace Emergency Response Center if an air bag or seat-belt Emergency Tensioning Device is activated. Another available feature is Crisis Assist, which provides the driver contact to a Mercedes-Benz Emergency Response Specialist who can assist the driver in real-time in the event of a disaster. Other features in this package include Stolen Vehicle Location Assistance, SOS/Emergency Call capability and an Automatic Alarm Notification system.
There is a six-month free trial for the safety and security package.
Seeing the Whole Picture
The reversing camera is gradually becoming a standard feature on newer model vehicles for all automakers. The camera acts as a visual aid which makes reverse parking and other reversing maneuvers much easier. It switches on automatically when reverse gear is engaged, and shows the area to the rear of the vehicle.