September27
Mercedes has introduced “Blind Spot Assist,” a radar-based system — similar to that offered by Volvo — that, like the name implies, warns the driver when a vehicle is present in the car’s blind spot. The system uses six radar sensors to to detect vehicles lurking in blind spots.
Once a car is detected by the system, a red light appears on the side view mirror to warn the driver. If the driver puts on a turn signal while there is a car in a blind spot, the system further alerts the driver with an audible warning as well as switching the red light to flash mode.
Blind Spot Assist adds to Mercedes long list of radar-based safety systems — including PRE-SAFE and DISTRONIC PLUS — and is further proof that the future of automotive safety will focus on crash-avoidance.
Nice… I can’t wait until the car makes up for the dumas on the phone who can’t be bothered to watch his mirrors.
Are we slowly removing thinking from driving?
Customers have asked or told me the following:
“Traction control should be standard.”
“If my tire pressure sensors go out, will the car be safe to drive?”
“Manual transmissions are too strenuous. I don’t want my daughter getting injured!”
“I can’t drive in the snow without 4WD.”
I think that we’re either getting dumber or lazier. Or both.
theese people seriously should take the darn bus if they refuse to drive correctly.
Cool? Even Cadillac had it before Mercedes..at least Buick didn’t beat them to it.
I’m with you guys. I’ve been driving for 35 years, and I’ve NEVER caused an accident. And it’s because I’m a careful driver, which includeds checking the blind spot all by myself! And I drive stick shifts. And I’ve never owned a car with traction control OR tire pressure monitors. Geez you guys—learn how to DRIVE the car yourself; don’t just go along for the ride hoping that all the “safety systems” are sufficient to save your dumb ass and working properly.
I agree with everything you’ve said, but there re always idiots causing accidents, even if we don’t. And one day we could end up in an accident because of these stupid drivers.
So I say keep on bringing the safety features, if you’re used to being careful, keep being careful, even with all these extras.
If you’re a dumbass this is great news for you!!
B.S. Assistance: the name says it all…
damn teenagers.
Its the same system used by Volvo made by Siemens ROFL.
This system has been in place by Audi too, I believe. That’d make Mercedes a late comer.
ATTENTION CAR COMPANY :
ADD A BLIND SPOT MIRROR ON EACH SIDE, LIKE TRUCKS HAVE !!!
Cost savings compared to this complex system is huge.
People would love you for it.
Is a simple solution too much to ask for ???
Sad. More sensors, more wiring, more weight to the vehicle, more opportunity for the sensors to throw codes or go bad.
At least this is useful feature. Few years back Benz removed 75% of it software from processors on S class (at a substantial cost). It was decided that car can function without it without loss of life. That act drastically IMPROVED reliability. I still recall when Benz was much more troublesome division then Chrysler. No wonder the darn thing cost so much: it’s not the cost of wheels (5000 year old technology) and engine (well those are nice) it is all that crap they right in software.
You know what would be a real breakthrough? A cell-phone jamming system that engages whenever the car is in motion. That way you would actually have to pull over if you need to make a call.
While moving the driver needs to be focused on the road. Not the AM/FM/XM/HDRadio/CD/DVD/iPod/MP3/8-track player, cellphone, texting, putting cream-cheese on your bagel, putting on lipstick or shaving, reading the newspaper, or fantasizing about Scarlett Johanssen (well, maybe the last…)
Give me crash safety over crash avoidance anyday.
global i was typing the same thing then decided to read the other posts, you beat be to it.
“I agree with everything you’ve said, but there re always idiots causing accidents”
The problem here is we’re allowing the idiots to do even more dumb things and survive. This is reverse Darwinism, and it will wind up hurting us.
I was watching an informative TV show outlining how making roads safer actually causes more accidents. Making the turns straighter and wider makes the morons think they can go around them faster, and they wind up doing themselves and the rest of us more damage.
Someone else said their customers can’t drive in the snow without 4WD - I say if that’s true they can’t drive in the snow even with it! All 4WD does for them is get them into deeper trouble.
CTS DRIVER:
What, you like Scarlett too?
injunraiv,
You’re right. Some of the ol’ timers around here remember the days of rear wheel drive or nothin’. Snow isn’t some new thing. If a forty year old truck could do well then, certainly a 2008 truck could do better today. Hell, most of my trucks even have locking differentials.
GM has this already. You can find it on the Caddy. You can also find it on the new 2008 Buick Lucernes along with lane drift alert.
I have a Buick Lucerne CXS and not only is my car much more reliable then any Mercedes (Most Mercedes are rock bottom for reliability) per JD Powers and Consumer Reports. It also cost a lot less.
MERCEDES-BENZ WILL GET BACK ON TOP IN EVERYTHING THEY DO….THIS TIME IT WILL REMAIN UNCONQUERABLE….TRUST ME
I COULD BET THIS IS A GREAT FEATURE IN THEIR CARS