Mercedes-Benz Oakville

The most important safety system in today's vans has actually evolved over many thousands of years: the human brain. It pilots increasingly powerful vehicles through ever denser traffic. Our vans provide stress-relief for the driver and protection for the vehicle's occupants.

...and surrounding traffic always takes priority over operating accessories such as the telephone or navigation system. Concentrating on what really matters. For the van driver, this means keeping your eyes and mind on the road at all times.

The manufacturer, meanwhile, has a responsibility to make sure that the growing number of useful in-vehicle functions and communication devices in vans of today can be operated easily and safely. We therefore make sure that all controls and instruments in Mercedes-Benz vans are positioned in accordance with the very latest findings of anthropo-technical research.

... you should always adopt an anticipatory style of driving and never let your concentration lapse. No matter how sophisticated seat belts and airbags are made, there's no such thing as a "risk-free" accident. Either for the van driver or for other road users.

Like their active safety equipment, the passive safety of the Sprinter conforms to very high standards. Passive safety features are designed to prevent or minimise injury to both the vehicle's own occupants and other persons involved in an accident. The systems used by Mercedes-Benz include high-strength bodies, seat belt systems and airbags.

But Mercedes-Benz thinks even further ahead by working intensively on measures which are intended to mitigate the vehicle's occupants suffering further injury following an accident and expedite their rescue – this includes automatically shutting off the fuel supply, partially lowering the windows and the Sprinter "Rescue guidelines".

The development of electronic driving safety systems and cutting-edge technology for improved perceptual safety out on the road is of paramount importance for Mercedes-Benz vans.

... you suddenly find yourself confronted by on obstacle in the road. Are you prepared for this moment?

Mercedes-Benz fits electronic driving safety systems to help you handle such tests of your driving skills with ease. However, these systems are unable to change the laws of physics. For this reason, an anticipatory style of driving and respect for the vehicle's limits remain paramount to both your safety and that of other road users.

...can lead to errors in judgement out on the road. This is particularly true at night-time, where visual acuity is limited. Which is why the ongoing improvement of perceptual safety forms a focal point of research and development activities at Mercedes-Benz Vans.

Even the very best perception-enhancement technology is only able to assist with judging driving situations correctly and cannot make the judgement for you. It is therefore imperative that you maintain a clear overview of the situation ahead at all times and drive in an anticipatory manner.

With their load-securing devices and many optional extras, Mercedes-Benz vans come with everything needed for restraining loads professionally. However, they do not relieve those responsible of their duty to actually secure the loads.

... can cause any unrestrained load, regardless of its weight, to creep, slide, tilt or roll in an uncontrolled fashion, thereby provoking a potentially dangerous situation. As a result, drivers may lose control of the vehicle if they have to suddenly swerve or brake sharply.

This can be prevented if the load is correctly secured. Mercedes-Benz vans offer all the right load-securing aids for doing just this. There are basically two different forms of load restraint: positive and non-positive locking.

... you suddenly come upon queuing traffic just a hundred metres ahead. An emergency stop brings your van safely to a halt, thanks to ADAPTIVE ESP® and ABS. But the unsecured rotary saw table in the back of your van isn't equipped with ESP®. Or with ABS. It doesn't take much imagination to realise you've got a problem.

Mercedes-Benz vans come equipped with a range of practical devices for restraining loads, many more are available as options or accessories. But it's up to the driver, the vehicle's owner and the loading personnel to make sure that these load-securing aids are actually used. So remember to always secure your load correctly – even on shorter journeys.