Safety Assistance System Daimler Buses

Safe on the road

with assistance systems for our buses and coaches

Buses and coaches need special protection systems that meet the high safety requirements of this vehicle class – after all, it is people being transported here, not just pallets.

The safety concept of Daimler Buses is made up of many different components. At the core of this are vehicle- and application-specific safety systems that increase the active and passive safety of the buses and coaches. Almost all assistance and safety systems for buses and coaches were first introduced to the market in a vehicle from Mercedes-Benz or Setra.

The standard for bus safety: standard assistance systems for Mercedes-Benz and Setra buses and coaches

Whether regular-service bus, inter-city bus or coach, whether with diesel engine or fully electric drive – these assistance systems can be found in all buses and coaches from Mercedes-Benz and Setra:

  • Sideguard Assist 2

    Thanks to a new sensor concept, the second-generation Sideguard Assist reacts and warns even more precisely if there is a risk of collision with pedestrians and cyclists. A large area view to the front and sides is made possible by the combination of five short- and long-range radar sensors and camera that is used for Sideguard Assist 2 and the new Frontguard Assist. Sideguard Assist 2 is now also available for the driver's side. This makes turning off on this side even safer. At speeds above 40 km/h, Sideguard Assist 2 also performs the function of a lane change assistant. Up to the maximum permissible speed, it informs the driver of objects on both sides of the vehicle. If there is a risk of collision, the driver is warned visually and haptically.

  • Frontguard Assist

    The new Frontguard Assist from Daimler Buses can be a helpful feature in order to avoid accidents when moving off, for example, at traffic lights or bus stops. Frontguard Assist detects and warns of potential collisions with unprotected road users in the immediate vicinity of the front of the vehicle. Sideguard Assist 2 and Frontguard Assist combine to create a complete warning system that warns of obstacles and people at the sides and in front of the bus. Together with the standard reversing camera or especially the optional 360° camera system, the driver is provided with a comprehensive information and warning system all around the bus.

  • Traffic Sign Assist

    The intelligent Traffic Sign Assist system compares the current speed of the bus with the permitted vehicle speed and warns if the permitted speed is exceeded. It works throughout Europe despite different country-specific signage. Traffic Sign Assist can thus reduce the risk of accidents due to excessive speed and inattentiveness. It also reduces the risk of fines due to speeding.

  • Tire Pressure Monitoring TPM

    The tire pressure monitoring system (TPM) is also part of the standard equipment. TPM prevents tire damage by indicating a possible pressure loss. In addition, the correct tire pressure reduces both wear and fuel consumption.

  • Attention Assist (AtAs)

    Attention Assist (AtAs) warns the driver of possible distraction or fatigue by monitoring their driving behavior and detecting signs of inattentiveness. It issues warnings to prompt the driver to return their attention to the road and can thus help to avoid accidents.

  • Reversing camera

    The reversing camera is a camera mounted at the rear of the vehicle that provides the driver with a better view of the area behind the vehicle. It is activated when reverse gear is engaged and shows a live image of the vehicle’s surroundings on a screen in the vehicle. Depending on the model series, the image is transmitted to an existing monitor in the cockpit or an additional monitor in seven-inch format. As an alternative to the reversing camera, companies can also choose the 360° camera system (articulated buses: 270° camera system).

Specialists for the city: Preventive Brake Assist 2 and Articulation Turntable Controller (ATC)

We have developed various assistance systems that are tailored to the challenges of urban traffic.

  • Preventive Brake Assist 2

    Preventive Brake Assist is the world’s first specialized active braking assistance system for city buses. The new second generation of this assistance system uses a combination of short-range and long-range radar sensors and a camera to respond to stationary and moving objects such as pedestrians and cyclists. Within the system limits, detection of objects located off the road is improved and false warnings are minimized. Preventive Brake Assist 2 warns the driver of a collision with stationary or moving objects and simultaneously automatically initiates a braking maneuver with partial braking. Partial braking is applied until either the driver intervenes, the situation is no longer critical or the bus comes to a standstill. The warning cascade and brake application have been tailored precisely to use in regular service in order to ensure protection of standing passengers. Preventive Brake Assist 2 is optionally available in the low-floor buses of the Mercedes-Benz Citaro, eCitaro and Conecto model series as well as in the Setra MultiClass 500 LE model series for urban and intercity transport.

  • Articulation angle control with Articulation Turntable Controller (ATC)

    Another specialist development for city buses is the patented Articulation Turntable Controller (ATC) for articulated buses. The latter are very demanding in terms of driving stability because the drive in the rear section pushes the front section. The ATC driving dynamics control regulates the hydraulic damping of the articulation joint quickly and accurately. When doing this, it takes numerous different parameters into account. If the vehicle enters a critical state, for example, on a slippery or wet road, ATC applies the required damping of the articulation joint in fractions of a second. The two damping cylinders are controlled independently of each other. This means that the articulated bus is stabilized very quickly as far as is physically possible, and the rear section does not understeer or oversteer. The result is driving stability close to the level of ESP. Whether the Citaro G, eCitaro G or the CapaCity large-capacity bus: All Mercedes-Benz articulated buses are fitted with ATC anti-jackknifing protection as standard.

Specialist for coaches and inter-city buses: Active Brake Assist emergency braking system

The latest emergency braking system from Daimler Buses Active Brake Assist 6 (ABA 6) works with a combination of short and long-range radar sensors. While speeds up to 50 km/h were already possible with ABA 5, the system is now able to react to pedestrians and cyclists up to a speed of 60 km/h. The ABA 6 safety system can react to pedestrians and cyclists crossing its lane, approaching the vehicle or moving along its own lane with automatic maximum full-stop braking. Recognition of lane markings enables optimum assignment of objects and can thus reduce false alarms. Even in typical bends for motorways with a radius of approx. 260 meters or more, it reacts reliably to obstacles driving ahead and stationary obstacles. Accident avoidance is possible at speeds of up to 90 km/h, and up to 70 km/h in bends with a radius of approx. 260 meters or more. Under optimal conditions, the severity of an accident can be significantly reduced at higher speeds. The warning cascade in the event of an imminent accident consists of a visual and haptic warning. If the driver does not react, partial braking is first performed and then emergency braking. Active Brake Assist 6 is standard equipment on all Mercedes-Benz and Setra coaches. It is optionally available for the Mercedes-Benz Intouro inter-city bus. 

The best possible view for all bus drivers: 360o camera system

Visibility is safety. The new 360o camera system for buses and coaches from Mercedes-Benz and Setra provides an all-round view of the entire surroundings on solo buses by means of four cameras. The camera system is automatically active up to a speed of 35 km/h when moving off. It is also switched on at higher speeds if the turn signals are activated. The driver can see the bus in a bird’s-eye view on a monitor with a split screen. The second image on the monitor depends on the driving situation: Depending on which turn signal is activated or whether or not reverse gear engaged, the view automatically switches to the corresponding side. A total of five views are available. In addition, the driver can manually change views as required. The 360o camera system is optionally available for city, inter-city and touring coaches from Mercedes-Benz, while a 270o camera system is available for articulated buses. Here, three cameras provide an overview to the left and right of the rear section as well as to the rear.

Cameras instead of mirrors: MirrorCam for all buses and coaches from Daimler Buses

All bus model series from Mercedes-Benz and Setra, whether city, inter-city bus or coaches, are optionally available with cameras instead of the previous outside mirrors. The MirrorCam camera system offers an extended field of vision for the driver through the windows and significantly better visibility to the rear in the dark thanks to residual light enhancement. Compared with conventional mirrors, the MirrorCam hardly or only slightly protrudes beyond the vehicle edges, which can make maneuvering easier and lead to less damage. Finally, the frontal area of the bus is reduced, which has a positive effect on fuel consumption. The images from the cameras are transmitted to 15-inch monitors mounted on the inside of the A-pillars. Exceptions are the low-floor buses of the Mercedes-Benz Citaro family and the Setra MultiClass LE: Due to the design of vehicles with glazed driver’s cabs and inward swiveling doors, the monitors on the door side are arranged approximately in the center of the vehicle. An additional camera and a second monitor in seven-inch format ensure a view of the front curbside corner of the vehicle. The warning displays of Sideguard Assist can be shown on the monitors if desired.