Photo: Mercedes Benz Trucks press materials

Schmitt-Peterslahr truckers test Mercedes Benz’s Emergency Brake Assist at the Nürburgring

A group of 35 Schmitt-Peterslahr lorry drivers recently took part in safety training at the legendary Nürburgring circuit, where they also got to grips with Mercedes Benz Trucks' Emergency Brake assist feature.

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Together with Mercedes-Benz Truck Trainers and instructors from the driving safety centre, the truckers deepened their knowledge and skills on critical braking and driving situations.

Patrick Kölbel, Schmitt-Peterslahr’s fleet manager, is quoted as saying it is important to get such direct presentations of a truck’s capabilities direct from the manufacturer.

“Pushing yourself to the limits is enormously important. Many drivers have inhibitions about stepping on the brake pedal fully and making an emergency stop in tricky situations,” says Kölbel.

Mercedes-Benz TruckTrainer Steffen Martin was also keen to use the opportunity to praise the aforementioned brake assist system:

“We are happy to show what our fifth-generation Active Brake Assist (ABA 5) emergency braking system can do.” If the system detects the risk of an accident with a vehicle in front, a stationary obstacle or a person crossing, coming from the opposite direction or running in their own lane, the driver is first warned. If he does not react adequately, the system can initiate partial braking. If a collision is nevertheless imminent, the ABA 5 from Mercedes-Benz Trucks can perform an automated emergency braking manoeuvre – on moving persons up to a vehicle speed of 50 km/h. Only our ABA 5 can do that,” claims Martin.

Some of the practical exercises at the Nürburgring took place on slippery and wet surfaces, which simulate well the driving behaviour on slippery roads or even snow.

Mercedes-Benz Trucks says many drivers who took part had an “aha” experience – even at a speed of 10 km/h. The manufacturer states that a few percent gradient is enough to make lane keeping a challenge. At another station, the focus was on manoeuvring, for example in a pole lane and in cornering situations.

Peter Schmitt, Managing Director at Schmitt-Peterslahr, says the latter took up a large part of the training due to the fact that “80 per cent of damage happens in slow driving areas”.