Skip Navigation
Safety

1989 300 SL Crash Test

Luxury through peace of mind.

To deliver the best or nothing, safety must come first. It’s why we devote so much time to a moment we hope never happens, and why every Mercedes-Benz is engineered to make an accident less severe, less damaging, and even less likely.

Crash test dummies in the front seats of a vehicle during testing.

Protecting what matters most.

An accident occurs. Various crumple zones keep the cabin isolated, while an advanced airbag system offers protection to the head, knees and more. Side impact airbags deploy in the rear, and even the seatbelts themselves are reinforced with airbags to distribute force and protect the ribcage.

Protecting drivers and passengers has always been our priority, and with every innovation, that legacy continues.

Preventing accidents before they happen.

To this day, breakthroughs continue in the world of safety. Here are some of the most advanced safety features in the Mercedes‑Benz lineup

An airbag deploying in front of an empty seat.
A translucent look through the front grille of a vehicle showing the safety systems within.
A widescreen digital dashboard with graphics of the speedometer and vehicle, and "Attention Assist" highlighted.
An airbag deploying in front of an empty seat.

PRE-SAFE®

Our patented PRE-SAFE system anticipates a collision using a network of sensors. Seatbelts tighten, headrests adjust, and windows close all in a matter of seconds. Newer vehicles even emit pink noise, triggering the inner ear to protect your hearing from the pressure of impact. Disclaimer[4]

A translucent look through the front grille of a vehicle showing the safety systems within.

Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC®

Safe driving means keeping a proper distance. Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC® keeps a selectable set of car lengths between you and the vehicle ahead. As traffic slows or stops, so does your Mercedes-Benz, acting as a second set of hands. Disclaimer[5]

A widescreen digital dashboard with graphics of the speedometer and vehicle, and "Attention Assist" highlighted.

ATTENTION ASSIST®

Even in a Mercedes-Benz, long drives can result in fatigue. ATTENTION ASSIST monitors your interaction with the vehicle controls and detects steering corrections that suggest drowsiness. If it senses driver fatigue, it triggers an alert that encourages y­­ou to stop for a rest.

A worker's vehicle pulled over to the side of the road at an accident investigation.

Accident Investigation

Just a few pieces of data can mean the difference between a collision and close call. That's why we created the Mercedes-Benz Accident Investigation team, a special unit in Stuttgart, Germany dedicated to gathering and evaluating information that has the potential to save lives across the world.

From impact speed to collision angles, the data collected at the scene informs our ongoing improvement of safety features, and has led to the development of groundbreaking technology like ATTENTION ASSIST and DISTRONIC PLUS with PRE-SAFE® Brake.

Lighting Technology

For seeing what lies ahead, in the clearest way possible.

A vehicle driving on a dark road, facing oncoming traffic with its headlights on.

Adaptive Highbeam Assist

Adaptive Highbeam Assist uses a dedicated camera to scan the road ahead for the lights of other vehicles. Based on their position, it varies the headlamps to maximize illumination without causing glare for other drivers.

A black and white night-vision view of a road with people standing on the shoulder.

Night View Assist PLUS

Using infrared beams and a special camera, Night View Assist PLUS displays a real-time view of the dark road ahead. It can point out and shine the headlamps toward pedestrians it detects. And unlike thermal systems, it can sense cold objects, too. Disclaimer[6]

A black and white night-vision view of a road with people standing on the shoulder.

LED Intelligent Light System

Numerous light-emitting diodes (LEDs) per headlamp generate an output that’s the closest yet to how humans perceive natural daylight. The direction and distance of the beam shifts based on your steering, speed and surrounding traffic.

Impact Stories

Impact Stories: Real people, up close and personal.

Drivers and their families tell unscripted stories of survival – what they saw, what they felt, and how it changed their perspective for good.

InnovationPerformanceSafetyDesignModern LuxuryBe Like BerthaSafe Spaces