2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK Sets Safety Standards for Roadsters

The new SLK Roadster from Mercedes-Benz sets new standards in safety. The safety experts at Mercedes-Benz have long adopted the motto, the best or nothing, coined by Gottlieb Daimler. Mercedes is not content with just hitting safety ratings, they work to attain safety levels that not only meet but far exceed standars set by the world's legislators. The most important measure of their work is not the laboratory or crash test facility, but actual, real-life accidents. They call the results of their work Real Life Safety, a concept which is based on research into thousands of accidents. Using this irrefutable evidence, the Mercedes-Benz engineers have developed or initiated most of the assistance systems which today effectively support drivers and have been adopted by many of the company's competitors.

ATTENTION ASSIST and ADAPTIVE BRAKE as standard

The new SLK also features a unique combination of driver assistance systems which help to avoid accidents. These include the drowsiness detection system ATTENTION ASSIST, for example. Thanks to this system, the roadster develops a precise feeling for the level of attentiveness of the driver and can provide an early warning of overtiredness.

Also making up part of the standard equipment specification is the ADAPTIVE BRAKE. It comprises ABS, the acceleration skid control system ASR and also active yaw control (GMR). In addition, it features the following functions:

    * it supports the driver when moving off uphill, by preventing the vehicle from unintentionally rolling back;

    * it also keeps the vehicle stationary without having to keep the brakes applied continuously – for example when waiting at traffic lights

    * as soon as the driver abruptly steps off the accelerator, it brings the brake pads into light contact with the brake discs as a precautionary measure, so that the necessary braking pressure can be attained quicker in the possible event of emergency braking;

    * in wet conditions it applies light brake contact, without the driver even noticing, to dry the brake discs.

The ADAPTIVE BRAKE works in conjunction with the equally adaptive brake light. In emergency braking situations, it warns vehicles behind with flashing brake lights.

Emergency braking on detecting an acute risk of a front-end collision

Available as optional extras are the DISTRONIC PLUS proximity control as well as the PRE-SAFE Brake, already tried and tested in other Mercedes-Benz models. Both systems work in conjunction and can initiate emergency braking automatically on detecting an acute risk of an accident.

In normal driving conditions, the radar-based DISTRONIC PLUS proximity control adjusts the distance to the vehicle in front automatically. If necessary, it can apply the brakes, even bringing the SLK Roadster to a stop, and accelerate it again. This takes some of the strain off the driver, particularly in bumper-to-bumper driving conditions. If the distance starts to narrow too quickly, the system gives the driver visual and audible warnings, thereby prompting the driver to take action, at which point he is also supported by Brake Assist PLUS (BAS PLUS).