In a recent study conducted by engineers at Mercedes-Benz, it was found that with the help of the company’s DISTRONIC PLUS and Brake Assist PLUS, 20 percent of rear-end collisions could have been prevented in Germany alone. The findings also revealed that on highways, rear-end collisions could have been reduced by an average of 36 percent.



The findings were based on a new procedure developed by Mercedes engineers that makes possible a predictive calculation of the usefulness of new safety technologies. Factors taken into account during the research included both official statistics and the analysis of the approximately 16,000 traffic accidents which have so far been studied within the framework GIDAS (German In-Depth Accident Study), as well as the reconstruction of more than 800 rear-end collisions.



DISTRONIC PLUS and Brake Assist PLUS systems are both radar-based, with around 40 percent of new S-Class models already equipped with the technology (and more than 80 percent of new C-Class models). DISTRONIC PLUS operates by keeping a vehicle at a previously chosen distance from the vehicle traveling in front of it and, if necessary, is capable of braking a vehicle to a complete standstill, depending on the traffic situation. In the event the traffic a vehicle is following slows too rapidly, the system provides a warning and calculates the required brake pressure required to safely stop it, which is then provided instantaneously by the Brake Assist PLUS system as soon as the brake pedal is depressed. Should the warning be disregarded, the PRE-SAFE Brake system performs an emergency partial braking maneuver, significantly reducing the severity of the impact.



In Germany, there are over 50,000 severe rear-end accidents every year, with 5,700 resulting in death or serious injuries. In the United States, around 30 percent of all traffic accidents are rear-end collisions.

For more information, visit www.emercedesbenz.com.