Mercedes-Benz driving experience

People who buy cars read about safety features like ABS, EBD, Brake Assist, etc and while some catalogues do a good job of explaining them, many people still may not fully understand how they really work and how they can save big repair bills and lives.

In fact, many people who have ABS in their cars may use it and not even realize the way it prevents their car’s wheels from locking up and skidding on a wet road.

To really appreciate safety features needs experiencing them in controlled conditions where there is no other traffic. That way, extreme situations can be created and then the helpful effect of systems like ABS can be seen. While Active Safety features can be experienced personally, it would be hard for people to experience Passive Safety… an airbag inflates at high speed and would be like a punch coming at 200 km/h. However, the airbag works in such a way that it deflates at a precise moment to cushion the body as it is thrown forward violently (even with seatbelts on), reducing head and face injuries. So it is unlikely that people would want to experience an airbag deployment and manufacturers also hope that they never ever have to.

Active Safety can be experienced at the Mercedes-Benz Driving Experience which Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM, previously known as DaimlerChrysler Malaysia) will run three times this year at the Sepang Circuit in Selangor.

Each session, which costs RM1,800 is a full-day affair and experienced instructors provide explanations and tips on how to drive in a safer manner. Apart from giving a vivid and memorable demonstration of the safety technology in every Mercedes-Benz, the Driving Experience also teaches owners how to make the best use of such features to avoid dangers and critical situations.

For the Driving Experience, there are four different sections, each designed to allow drivers to experience Active Safety. One section, done in the parking area of the circuit, shows off the advantages of having ESP and ABS when braking on a slippery surface. In this section, participants are asked to brake hard with one side of the car on the very slippery strip and the other side on the surface with good grip. If the car doesn’t have ABS, the wheels on the slippery side would lock up right away and the car would go out of control during braking. With ABS, the on-board computer will control braking pressure many times a second to prevent wheel lock-up and braking will be stable so the car will stop in a straight line.

ESP is demonstrated in the same section but the participant is asked to swerve to simulate avoiding something. Again, without such devices to help, the car can go out of control especially during hard braking and because of the varying grip. ESP uses various sensors to detect the severity of the car’s movements and applies braking pressure on each of the wheels as needed to counteract oversteer, for instance, and allow the driver to maintain steering control and guide the car safely past the danger.

The instructors advise drivers to brake hard because that optimizes the ABS function and at the same time, look at the safe area to guide the car towards. With ABS, aiming for such an area will get the car there as the ESP will keep the car stable and maintain grip. One section is devoted to cornering lines and the sequence of braking and steering through a bend. The basic idea is that you minimize turning when going through a bend and ‘straighten’ the corner.

You can see this if you watch the F1 drivers and the lines they take through turns. Those are the lines that allow the fastest speed but they are also safe because with minimal steering movements, the car can remain more stable. The participants are shown the lines to use and also where to brake and how to moderate braking. They are taught the importance of braking at the right time before the bend to adjust the speed and to come off the brakes progressively; releasing the brake pedal suddenly can also affect stability so it has to be done smoothly.

Having different types of models also helps the participants appreciate the effect of size and weight on maneuverability. They are encouraged to try the A-Class as well as the S-Class and can see that you need a different approach with each model. The smaller A-Class is nimble and easy to zip in between the cones but the big S-Class has good stability though the greater weight is very apparent.

The final exercise is the one which most people enjoy a lot – driving around the circuit at speed. Some other courses of this nature usually have the instructor taking the participants around for a very fast and exciting lap but the Mercedes-Benz Driving Experience allows them to drive themselves. The day’s activities come to a close with the presentation of a certificate of participation which owners take home, along with skills that will help them in daily driving.

“Better driving skills can make a world of difference for everyone who shares the road and through this unique event, our customers can also understand and make the best use of the electronic assistance on board every Mercedes-Benz,” said MBM’s Florian Mueller, Vice President of Marketing & Sales.