Mercedes S Class Braking

Khandro | 16:35 Wed 02nd Mar 2016 | Motoring

18 Answers

A friend has just phoned to say her brother (whom I know slightly) has been killed driving a new "top of the range" S Class by running straight into Lorry while driving to Denmark, and between sobs said something about him having the brakes on the "wrong settings" - surely not?
Anyone know what she might have been told? - I couldn't pursue the subject- I can't imagine even if there is some kind of onboard setting it would have the possibility of endangering life.

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Ellipsis

Best Answer

See this, Khandro ...

16:51 Wed 02nd Mar 2016

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bhg481

I've never heard of brakes having settings. Many "top of the range" cars have suspension settings.

Ellipsis

Sorry about your friend's brother.

I wouldn't have thought the brakes would be adjustable on their own. Maybe part of some wider setting, like a "sport" setting.

gingejbee

Possibly the "self-braking" system was switched off. My car has it and it can be "off" or "on"....it can apply the brakes in an emergency.

Khandro

Question Author

gingejbee; Can you explain that a bit further please, how does the car 'know' if it is an emergency?

Ellipsis

See this, Khandro ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzHM6PVTjXo

gingejbee

The system uses lasers and the on-board computer to determine if a collision is about to happen. If the driver hasn't applied the brakes, the auto-braking kicks in. It can avoid (or at least lessen) a collision. So, if it was switched "off" in your situation....the collision may have been much worse than it would have been....had the system been "on".

bhg481

I'd completely forgotten about that....and my car has it.

TWR

I hope Eddie is looking at your post Khandro, after his auto post.

Mamyalynne

Condolences to your friend Khandro.

Khandro

Question Author

Ellipsis; Thanks for that link, surprising that the S Class didn't do quite so well despite its cost. What I don't understand is why would he (or anyone) not have it on permanently?
People do drive alarmingly fast here of course, 200kph is not uncommon. I'll find out more of the circumstances in due course. Tilo, RIP !

gingejbee

Just to add....if a car has this system, it is normally "on" all the time, by default. If the driver chooses (for whatever reason) to switch the system "off", there are all manner of warnings (lights, buzzer etc) that activate....basically telling you that you'd be better off leaving the system "on".

bhg481

There have been incidences of people being rammed from behind because their car has mistakenly applied the brakes. The tests in the video showed the car catching up with something and applying the brakes firmly; if something appears suddenly the car undergoes an emergency stop which can be quite disconcerting if there is actually no reason for it.

ToraToraTora

Condolences to your friend. The s-class has automatic breaking, sounds like he switched it off and then forgot and then thought he'd try it out, wallop. I can understand why you'd switch it off what I can't understand is why you'd switch it on. These automatic devices are dumbing down driving skills, drive or don't drive there is nothing in between.

Khandro

Question Author

TTT; I haven't got any more details and don't want to exacerbate their family grief by inquiring, but Tilo was an experienced driver and always had the top S class'. This was a new one, all I know is he hit a lorry. If he was driving fast and it quickly moved into his path the speed difference would be such that whether the system was on or off I guess it wouldn't have prevented the crash.

I'll have to wait to find out more.

gingejbee

TTT..."these automatic devices are dumbing-down driving skills".
The misinformed used to say the same about ABS, traction control etc. and they are now widely regarded as essential safety kit. Presumably TTT doesn't drive a vehicle that includes ABS or any type of electronic stability system lest they undermine his finely-honed driving skills.