Mercedes-Benz has revealed its latest driver assistance program aimed at preventing drivers from unintentionally travelling the wrong way down major arterials.
Working as part of the new Mercedes-Benz traffic sign assistance system, the ‘wrong-way’ alert program recognises ‘no entry’ signs and issues both aural and visual alerts to warn the driver if it detects the driver heading towards a roadway in the wrong direction.
The safety-conscious German car maker says over the past three months in Germany, more than 25 people have died following collisions with vehicles travelling the wrong way on motorways or dual carriageways.
At the heart of the system is a camera on the inside of the windscreen that can visually identify ‘no entry’ signs and sends the information to the car’s on-board computer for comparison with the navigation system. It then detects if the vehicle is about to pass the identified signs and warns the driver with three loud beeps and a red ‘no-entry’ symbol on the driver’s display.
Other than helping to eliminate wrong-way drivers, known in Germany as ‘geisterfahrer’ or ‘phantom drivers’, the traffic sign assistance system also detects and displays speed limit signs, no-overtaking signs, and signs that indicate the end of those particular zones.
Mercedes-Benz says the new system, primarily designed for use in Germany but being looked at for use in other countries, will be initially available on the new Mercedes Benz S-Class due to be launched this year, as well as the new E-Class (pictured above), before being gradually introduced into other models.
