- Presenting the new Safety Coach at the IAA Transportation 2024
- Active Brake Assist 6 emergency braking assistant with multi-lane monitoring
- Sideguard Assist 2 with extended functionality on the driver’s side
- Frontguard Assist monitors the traffic area in front of the vehicle
- Traffic Sign Assist warns of excessive speed
- Attention Assist, TPM and reversing camera: from optional equipment to standard equipment
Leinfelden-Echterdingen – From 7 July 2024, the EU’s updated General Safety Regulation (GSR) will require all newly registered buses to have a whole range of driver assistance systems in order to further increase road safety for all parties involved. The current safety and assistance systems in Mercedes‑Benz and Setra brand buses do not simply meet the requirements of the GSR; some functions even go beyond the level required by the GSR. Assistance systems such as Active Brake Assist 5/6 or Preventive Brake Assist 2, Sideguard Assist 2, Frontguard Assist or Traffic Sign Assist now come as standard in all vehicle variants and represent further added value for Mercedes‑Benz and Setra city, intercity and touring coaches. The introduction of the new safety systems is also an opportunity for Daimler Buses to continue the long tradition of the “Safety Coach”.
Sixth Safety Coach with the largest number of safety and assistance systems
“Safety is always a top priority at Daimler Buses,” says Till Oberwörder, CEO of Daimler Buses. “With our Mercedes‑Benz and Setra brands, we have been pioneering new safety technologies and assistance systems for decades. The Safety Coach, which embodies our latest safety technology for buses, also has a long tradition at Daimler Buses.”
This sixth edition of the Safety Coach can now boast the largest number of safety and assistance systems to date in the long line of its predecessors, and consequently does full credit to the moniker of “Safety Coach”. The new, even more powerful Active Brake Assist 6 emergency braking assistant is also on board, as are Sideguard Assist 2, the completely new Frontguard Assist and the new Traffic Sign Assist, which warns the driver of excessive speed. In addition to these functions, Lane Assist (SPA), Attention Assist (AtAs), Tyre Pressure Monitoring (TPM), adaptive cruise control (ART) with additional stop-and-go function, Brake Assist (BA), continuous brake limiter (DBL), Electronic Stability Program (ESP), rain/light sensor and the 360° camera system are all included. The Mercedes‑Benz Tourismo Safety Coach is also equipped with the optional MirrorCam mirror replacement system. The benefits of the MirrorCam include the extended field of vision for the driver, significantly better visibility in the dark, less dirt, less manoeuvring damage and a further reduction in fuel consumption thanks to a smaller front section.
Active Brake Assist 6 emergency braking assistant with multi-lane monitoring
Active Brake Assist 6 (ABA 6) is a good example of overfulfilment of the GSR. The system is able to respond to pedestrians and cyclists up to a speed of 60 km/h – for ABA 5 this was already 50 km/h. The ABA 6 safety system can react to cyclists and people who are crossing the road, approaching the vehicle or walking in the vehicle’s lane with automatic emergency braking. The enhanced response to pedestrians and cyclists is an early look ahead to the new legislation for emergency braking systems for heavy-duty commercial vehicles, which will not become mandatory until later. At all speeds, the system can react to stationary vehicles in front of the bus with emergency braking to a standstill.
Recognition of the lane markings enables good mapping of objects and can thus reduce false alarms. Even on typical motorway bends with a radius greater than approx. 260 metres, the system can react to vehicles in front and stationary obstacles. For city buses, the GSR does not prescribe an emergency braking assistant because sudden emergency braking could be associated with a risk of injury for passengers. However, even in this case, Daimler Buses offers a brake assistant for the low-floor buses of the Mercedes‑Benz Citaro, eCitaro and Conecto model series, as well as for the Setra MultiClass 500 LE city and intercity buses: Preventive Brake Assist 2, the world’s first specialised active brake assistant for scheduled-service buses. It warns of stationary obstacles as well as pedestrians and cyclists and can initiate partial braking if the driver fails to react. This new, second-generation assistance system can react to stationary and moving objects, including pedestrians and cyclists.
Sideguard Assist 2 with extended functionality on the driver’s side
The second-generation Sideguard Assist turning assistant also exceeds the requirements of the GSR. A combination of five short- and long-range radar sensors, together with a camera, ensure a broad view to the front and side. Thanks to this enhanced fusion (i.e. merging of all six sensors), almost complete all-round visibility with 270-degree environment scanning is achieved for the first time. Sideguard Assist 2 now monitors not only the front passenger side, but also the driver’s side, and thus goes beyond the level required by the GSR. At speeds above 30 km/h, Sideguard Assist 2 also assumes the role of a lane change assistant. It notifies the driver about an object on either the driver’s side or the front passenger side up to the maximum speed.
Frontguard Assist monitors the traffic area in front of the vehicle
In order to avoid accidents when moving off, for example at traffic lights or bus stops, the new Frontguard Assist from Daimler Buses can be a helpful feature. If the system detects stationary or moving objects in front of the vehicle, it can assist the driver in driving situations up to 15 km/h with hazard warnings via the two-stage warning system. The assistance system covers the blind spot in front of the vehicle from 0.8 metres up to approximately four metres across the full width of the vehicle.
Sideguard Assist 2 and Frontguard Assist combine to create a complete warning system that warns of obstacles and people at the sides and in front of the bus. Together with the standard reversing camera or, even more so, the optional 360° camera system, the driver is provided with a comprehensive warning system for all aspects of their bus.
Traffic Sign Assist warns of excessive speed
The intelligent Traffic Sign Assist speed assistant compares the current speed of the vehicle with the permissible vehicle speed and warns the driver if the permitted speed is exceeded. The system can cope with the different signage throughout Europe. Traffic Sign Assist can thus reduce the risk of accidents caused by speeding and inattentiveness. It also reduces the risk of fines due to speeding.
Attention Assist, TPM and reversing camera: from optional equipment to standard equipment
The tyre pressure monitoring system (TPM) also now forms part of the standard equipment on all bus models from Daimler Buses. TPM prevents tyre damage by displaying any pressure loss. Setting the correct tyre pressure also decreases both wear and fuel consumption.
The standard equipment also includes Attention Assist (AtAs) as well as an interface for the use of alcohol testers in the driver’s workplace. The same applies to the previously optional reversing camera. Depending on the model series, the image is output on an existing monitor in the cockpit or an additional 7-inch monitor. As an alternative to the reversing camera, customers can also select the 360° camera system (articulated buses: 270° camera system).
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