Virtually no other area inspires Mercedes-Benz engineers more than researching new safety technologies. They passed their first key safety milestone as early as the 1950s with the development of the passenger safety cell, invented by Béla Barényi. Today it is one of numerous elements of an integrated safety concept that edges Mercedes-Benz vehicles closer to our vision of accident-free driving.
The majority of accidents start long before the actual collision: with a lapse in concentration, poor visibility or hazards which cannot be anticipated. That's why the Mercedes-Benz safety concept employs a range of measures to support safe driving in everyday operation and to help you bring critical situations under control.
Mercedes-Benz stands for automotive safety. That's why our vehicles can support their passengers even in critical driving situations, so that every journey is as safe as it can possibly be.
Mercedes-Benz cars are equipped with many safety systems to help prevent accidents. Should the worst come to the worst, however, a host of occupant safety measures are activated. They include protection for the vehicle occupants as well as for other road users.
To reduce consequential damage after an accident and support the work of the rescue services, a number of different actions are initiated, depending on the type and severity of the accident:
The best possible protection: the engine can be switched off automatically and the fuel supply can be cut off
Conspicuous lighting: the hazard warning lamps and the emergency interior lighting can be activated automatically in order to prevent consequential accidents and make it easier to find the accident vehicle
Good escape possibilities: the doors can be automatically unlocked
Measures to aid rescue: integral crash joints between the wing and the door can make opening the doors after a frontal collision easier
Helpful connection: in the event of an accident or breakdown the Mercedes-Benz emergency call system (in conjunction with a connected mobile phone) can automatically contact an emergency call centre
To complete its holistic safety philosophy, Mercedes-Benz has also published multilingual rescue guidelines (accessible worldwide on the internet) as a preventive measure for rescue services.