Checking the brake-and-steer system of a Mercedes car. |
On the day, before setting out for the day's training, a briefing was held to summarise what the event was going to be all about. Steffen Baumann, Director, marketing and sales, Mercedes-Benz Passenger Cars, DaimlerChrysler Middle East, emphasised how the company has been in the forefront of passenger safety innovations, and how it was now giving passengers a chance to experience those features.
We would be in the capable hands of Edgar Welzel, International Coordination, Drivers Safety Training, and his team of experienced trainers, who are part of a worldwide safety programme that Mercedes-Benz has initiated.
Uli Asin, one of the trainers, pointed out that there are a lot of safety features that are not visible when we look at a Mercedes. Hence the need to educate the driver on the 'whats' and 'hows' of the various safety innovations.
They have covered Mexico, Brazil, Europe and were now in the Middle East.
The most important thing in the car, we are told, is not the CD player, the vanity mirror or the ashtray but the wheels. It's with the help of these that we move, or stop.
The driver is also important since he/she makes the decisions, but more research and care has been taken to develop safety features like ABC (Active Body Control), ABS (Anti-Lock Braking System), BAS (Brake Assist System), ESP (Electronic Stability Programme), PRE-SAFE and SBC (Sensotronic Brake Control) to name a few.
The five courses that were set up in the controlled environment of a huge car park at Mina Seyahi, Dubai, highlighted various safety features 'hidden' in various Mercedes-Benz models from A-Class to S-Class.
The first exercise was the Slalom, where one had to zigzag one's way around cones traffic which gave me an idea of just how smooth and effortless the car is while negotiating sharp swerves.
The new S-Class sports an AIRMATIC suspension system combined with Adaptive Damping System (ADS), which automatically adjusts the front and rear shock absorbers to the current payload, the condition of the road and the driving style.
With the information thus collected, the ADS control unit calculates the optimum setting for each individual wheel and transmits the signals with split-second speed to special valves on the gas-pressure shock absorbers.
From left: Asin, Welzel, Renger and Proczyk... making Mercedes a safe brand |
The BAS was developed specially by Mercedes-Benz to shorten stopping distance in an emergency. Here, the system takes over if you step on the brake suddenly as well as softly. It develops maximum brake boost automatically, thus reducing the stopping distance. Even while driving the A160, which was the smallest of the range, you could feel the safety features on both wet and dry surfaces.
'Soft Stop' diminishes the jolt that can be felt when the car comes to a halt, while the 'Dry Brake' feature gently caresses the brake pads against the brake discs every few seconds to keep them dry, so when you need to stop in a crucial situation, braking is more effective. These are additional benefits of Sensotronic Brake Control, which enhances the performance of BAS.
Approaching an obstacle (in this case, a row of cones) at a speed of 70kph on a wet surface, the driver is supposed to brake, steer around the obstacle and return to the original track and continue moving.
This exercise, the third of the lot, simulated a situation which could occur at any time on the road. For instance, a pedestrian stepping on to the road suddenly, or an occupant of a parked car in line with the road suddenly opening the door.
The idea behind continuing on the same path is to simulate a situation where there is oncoming
traffic and you have to return to your original lane as soon as you avert the obstacle. It's here that the Electronic Stability Programme is most effective.
When this safety feature is activated, steering and braking is precise. This system intervenes if the car deviates too far from the safe 'ideal line' and follows a programme to correct the car's course by two different methods, namely precise application of the brakes at one or more wheels and/or reducing engine power.
ESP helps to bring the car back into the right direction on slippery surfaces where skidding could occur by monitoring the braking force on all four wheels, thus helping the driver keep the car under control.
The 2003 model of the S-Class features PRE-SAFE, which enhances the sense of security for its occupants. Accident researchers at Mercedes-Benz have realised that it becomes clear a few seconds before an accident that the mishap is ineveitable.
PRE-SAFE utilises these precious few seconds to protect its occupants in advance from the time it initially recognises an impending impact. This feature measures vehicle speed and acceleration, suspension and tire pressure, brake pedal speed, wheel slip and combines this information to provide timely precautions.
The seat-belt slack is removed and it tightens itself on both the driver and front passenger sides, the front passenger seat is automatically adjusted to an upright position and even the sunroof closes automatically.
Another feature - Active Body Control (ABC) - adapts the suspension and damping to different situations while providing responsive handling and a comfortable ride. Wheel and body vibrations, caused at the time of moving from stand-still position and those felt by braking and cornering, are controlled by hydraulic servos mounted in spring struts between the coil springs and the body, to give a smooth ride.
Comfortable or sporty suspension settings can be achieved by the press of a button. This was the fourth exercise of the day.
The 'Elk Test'/'Camel Test' was the final exercise of the day. This was similar to the third exercise in most ways. The difference this time was that control was achieved only with steering! When Reinhold Renger, our trainer for the day, demonstrated it to me as a passenger, it seemed impossible.
But I did it - after skipping a couple of heartbeats - much to my amazement! They say that the distance from the brain to the hand is shorter than the distance to the leg, and so the reflex action is first to steer and then to brake!
After a short tea break, it was time for the grand finale! A sort of a surprise in the form of a combination of all the days' exercises into one routine made out to be a time trial between the participants.