Safety

Overtiredness is one of the most frequent accident causes in holiday traffic

Stuttgart -- Aug 11, 2008 -- Stuttgart - Accident researchers at Mercedes-Benz are acutely aware of the danger in nodding off at the wheel (the "one-second nap").

Mercedes-Benz Attention Assist: Overtiredness is one of the most frequent accident causes in holiday traffic: Mercedes-Benz to introduce Attention Assist into series production in spring 2009

Chrysler and Dodge minivans earn Institute’s top rating, “Good” rating in front and side crash protection

Auburn Hills, Mich., May, 2008 - The all-new 2008 Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan earned “good” ratings, the highest ratings available from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), in both frontal offset and side crashworthiness tests.

2008 Chrysler Town & Country Limited

Five-star Front- and Side-Impact Ratings Accentuate Chrysler LLC’s Commitment to Safety and Security

Auburn Hills, Mich. -- The 2009 Dodge Journey earned 5-star ratings for driver- and front-passenger protection in a frontal crash along with 5-star driver and rear passenger ratings for side impact protection, the highest ratings in the U.S. government’s safety crash test program. The 2009 Dodge Journey is now available at local Dodge dealers.

2009 Dodge Journey

Honda Cooperating on Development of Driving Safety Support Systems Using Inter-Vehicle and Road-to-Vehicle Communications to Help Reduce Traffic Accidents

TOKYO, Japan, March 24, 2008 – Honda Motor Co., Ltd. announced that it will conduct testing on public roadways of its Driving Safety Support Systems*1 (DSSS) using inter-vehicle and road-to-vehicle communications. The tests, which will be conducted using the “Honda ASV-4” Advanced Safety Vehicle*2 and other vehicles equipped with advanced safety technology, will be carried out between Monday, March 24, and Friday, March 28, on public roadways in Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan.

25.01.2008 -- The teams in the FIA World Rally Championship have incorporated the FIA Institute’s new side impact safety system in time for the start of the 2008 season, beginning with Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo.

The Advanced Side Impact System, developed by the FIA Institute’s Closed Car Research Group, is designed to help save rally drivers and co-drivers from serious injury in the event of a high speed side-on crash with a solid object.

FIA President Max Mosley said:

Stuttgart -- Dec 20, 2007 -- Stuttgart – The new Mercedes-Benz C-Class has passed the European NCAP (New Car Assessment Programme) crash tests with flying colours. The Saloon has therefore been awarded five stars and, according to the Euro-NCAP organisation, is one of the safest cars available on the market.

2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Euro NCAP Testing

Inclement weather can pose challenges for even the most experienced driver

Orlando, Fla., 12/17/2007 -- Because more crashes involving property damage occur during the winter months than at any other time, AAA encourages motorists to prepare for adverse cold weather driving conditions with three main steps—prepare your vehicle; plan your journey in advance with a service such as the AAA’s TripTik® Travel Planner; and be cautious while on the road.

Prepare Your Vehicle

First, make sure your vehicle is prepared for winter driving. AAA offers the following tips for motorists departing on winter road trips:

* Have the battery and charging system tested. A fully charged battery in good condition is required to start an engine in cold weather.

Stuttgart -- Dec 10, 2007 -- A new type of assistance system, designed by Mercedes-Benz to warn the driver of tiredness and the dreaded phenomenon of nodding off at the wheel is now undergoing a final test phase. The system uses various sensors to analyze driving behavior and recognizes tiredness-related changes in the driver’s personal driving style. In this event the driver is prompted to take a break. Once all of the tests have been completed, the system will go into series production at Mercedes-Benz in 2009.

Mercedes-Benz Safety Systems for Tired Drivers

26.10.2007 -- The FIA Institute has concluded its groundbreaking project to develop a crash helmet specifically for use by young drivers.

In just two years, the FIA Institute and its partner Snell Memorial Foundation, have created a new Youth Helmet Standard, designed for the physique of two age groups: seven- to 11-year olds and 12- to 16-year olds.

Few people in the industry theorised that a young driver’s helmet should not be just a smaller version of an adult one but that was a key discovery made by the FIA Institute and its partners. This project is the first of its kind to develop safety equipment specifically for young drivers.

Hanover, October 2007 – Where traffic signals, pedestrian crossings or road markings are lacking, school kids – the most group out on the road – are at high risk of being involved in an accident. This is one reason for Continental AG's strong commitment to the successful "We reward your safety" project since 2004. Run in cooperation with Germany's Road Patrol organizations, it marks an effort to make school routes safer. Since it got started, schools, parent initiatives and concerned citizens have submitted more than 130 project applications aimed at eliminating danger hotspots for children on the road and at organizing traffic signals, pedestrian crossings and traffic safety education courses.