1958 Wedge-pin door lock July 2: A patent application is filed for the wedge-pin door lock with two safety detents. This innovative design, which prevents the doors from bursting open or jamming in the event of an accident, is implemented in series production in 1959.
1959 First series-production vehicle with safety bodywork
August 11: The press gather for the presentation of the new 6-cylinder 220, 220 S and 220 SE "tail fin" models – the world's first series-production vehicles with safety bodywork featuring integral crumple zones as well as an interior designed to minimise the risk of injury in an accident (e.g. a dashboard which yields on impact, a steering wheel with a large impact plate, exterior mirrors designed to break away on contact, padded window sills, door pillars, sun visors and ashtrays, back rests securely attached to front seats, yielding door-pull handles and grab handles.
1969 Accident research begins Official start of Mercedes-Benz accident research with the analysis of real-world road accidents.
1978 World premiere of ABS The ABS anti-lock braking system in the Mercedes-Benz S-Class (116 model series) enhances driving safety greatly. The system prevents the wheels from locking during emergency braking and works as reliably on dry asphalt as it does on wet or slippery surfaces. Thanks to ABS, drivers can avoid accidents by braking and steering round obstacles simultaneously.
1995 Production launch: Electronic Stability Program ESP® If the ESP® driving safety system identifies a critical dynamic handling situation, it is able to apply precisely metered braking to one or more wheels, as required. Furthermore, if the system determines that it is necessary, it can also adjust the engine torque automatically. In this way, ESP® helps the driver stabilise the vehicle – especially during cornering or sudden evasive manoeuvres. Nevertheless, ESP® can only assist the driver within the scope of the physical limits.
1997 Production launch: BAS Brake Assist In the driving simulator, Mercedes-Benz engineers discovered that although drivers initiate emergency braking quickly, they often fail to press the brake pedal with sufficient force. This finding led to the development of Brake Assist which is now standard in all Mercedes-Benz passenger cars. The system constantly monitors the speed with which the brake pedal is operated and feeds these data to the BAS control unit where they are continuously compared. If the actuation speed is significantly faster than usual, Brake Assist activates a solenoid valve which instantly generates the maximum brake pressure.
1998 An all-new S-Class The S-Class (220 model series) brought with it no less than 30 technical innovations, such as a front passenger airbag with a two-stage gas generator, seat belt tensioners and belt force limiters for the rear seats, the AKSE automatic child-seat recognition system and AIRMATIC air suspension with adaptive damping.
2002 PRE-SAFE® is born A world first in the S-Class (updated 220 model series): The introduction of the PRE-SAFE® anticipative occupant protection system (featuring reversible belt tensioners, automatic seat adjustment and automatic closure of the tilting/sliding sunroof), marks the start of new era of safety at Mercedes-Benz – an era characterised by the synergy of active and passive safety.
2005 DISTRONIC PLUS and BAS PLUS Both systems are first launched in the S-Class (221 model series). DISTRONIC PLUS features a new, convenient stop-and-go function. The vehicle-sensing electronics are used to enhance the efficiency of the Brake Assist System. If the vehicle approaches to within a critical distance of a vehicle/object ahead, the system calculates the brake pressure necessary to just avoid an impact and then stops the vehicle within the distance available. If the driver presses the brake pedal as the vehicle nears the obstacle, the braking response is determined by the driver's input.
