Reward 2011 - Mercedes-Benz Collision Prevention Assist

It is estimated that around 19 percent of all serious accidents in Germany are rear end collisions in longitudinal traffic. In around 70 percent of these accidents, the driver did not brake hard enough, or did so too late to avoid the accident. Collision Prevention Assist addresses these accidents by helping the driver to brake in time and, subsequently, to brake hard enough to avoid the accident. It is estimated that, if all cars in Europe had a system like Collision Prevention Assist, some 5400 fatal or severe injuries could be avoided each year.

Extensive track testing was done to ensure that Collision Prevention Assist met targets for when warnings were given to the driver and data was analysed to understand driver response to these warnings. Track testing was also used to develop the performance of adaptive brake assist, to make sure that the braking force was optimised. Extensive road trials were also conducted to ensure the system was sensitive enough to provide useful warnings but did not issue excessive false warnings. Mercedes-Benz’s accident research group carefully monitors the real-world crash performance of its vehicles and has extensive data on the performance and effectiveness of its advanced safety features.

Collision Prevention Assist relies on the driver reacting to the forward collision warning by braking and does not take any braking action without such a reaction. The adaptive brake assist cannot be switched off but it is over-ridden if the driver takes other evasive action. Collision Prevention Assist requires a sufficient radar reflectance of objects which the car is approaching. Also, the radar sensor needs a clear ‘view’ of the road in front and its efficiency is compromised by contamination such as snow, mud or leaves.

Collision Prevention Assist is rewarded for its availability on the Mercedes-Benz B-Class, on which it is fitted as standard equipment in EU 27.