Shorter braking distance with ESP

A new braking system prevents the car from swerving in milliseconds.

(Traffic|Transport) In the following two years Mercedes-Benz is going to install so-called thinking systems into its new models with the aim of improving safety drastically.

Tests show that in critical situations more than 90 percent of all drivers use the brakes wrongly or with much hesitation. New systems like the "Bremsassistent" (BA) are (supposed|intended|designed) to reduce the braking distance to up to 45 percent. An electronic unit measures the speed at which the driver applies the brake pedal and recognises from this if it is a case of emergency.

In this case the system activates the full (power|strength|potential) of the brake cylinders. Test (series|sequences) have proved that the braking distance of a car at 100 km/h can be (retrenched|reduced|diminished|decreased) from 73m to 40 metes.

Also the "Elektronische Stabilitätsprogramm" (ESP) basing on the meanwhile established ABS system (aims at more safety|serves to improve safety). In every (moment|situation) of driving ESP persistently measures the load on the individual wheels. The heart of the new braking system forms an electronic control unit placed in the engine compartment of the car.

The unit is connected to numerous sensors e.g. controlling rotating speed, transverse acceleration, braking pressure, steering angle and the speed of each (individual) wheel.

Sensors in the center of the vehicle monitor for example in bends in fractions of a second which forces the car is subjected to.

In case the driver oversteers the car and approaches a bend at too high a speed, the single wheels of the cars are slowed down separately. (By these means|Thereby) the car is stabilised and stays on track.

The drive dynamics adjustments (pops|comes) into action even before the driver encounters difficulties - for example when the rear wheels lose their grip on a straight road - maybe due to aquaplaning - or when the car swerves (due to|because of) too high a driving speed. The intervention into the driving situation is so soft and early that the driver can hardly recognize any change in driving characteristics.