ADAS In Mercedes-Benz GLC Saves Royal Enfield Rider (Video)

ADAS has become one of the most sought-after features in modern cars. Many manufacturers have already started democratising the technology that was once limited to high-end luxury cars alone. On the other hand, many are still of the opinion that it is an ambitious tech and is not to be prioritized during purchase. These thoughts come from people who are largely unaware of the extent and scope of the protection offered by these. A previous incident from Kerala shows how life-saving ADAS can be. A Mercedes GLC’s Automatic Emergency Braking saved the life of a biker. Let’s delve into the details.

A video of the biker having his close call was captured on the dash camera inside the Mercedes and shared online on the YouTube channel ’61 Garage’.  It shows the Mercedes Benz GLC 220d going through a narrow rural road in Kerala. Such roads pose significant challenges due to their restricted visibility and low area/ space for attempting overtakes or other manoeuvres.

The GLC was not overspeeding. The video shows it to be doing just around 30 kph. The driver thus seems to have been cautious at the time of the incident. The footage shows a bridge which the vehicle negotiates with ample care. After crossing it, it takes an almost blind right-hander curve. Soon, a Royal Enfield motorcycle is seen approaching at high speed from the opposite side.

The rider was unaware of the Mercedes, and upon realisation, slammed the brakes. He couldn’t however, control it fully as the motorcycle had its wheel locked in no time, and mildly crashed into the SUV. The GLC, on the other hand, saw the approaching two-wheeler in advance and applied its brakes automatically.

It could stop in time, even when the two-wheeler almost failed to do so. The efficient ADAS suit is to be thanked here. By the time when the motorcycle crashed into it, the GLC was already stationary.  The automatic Emergency Braking system and the Forward Collision Warning system were to be thanked here.

Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) often comes as a part of the ADAS suit of most vehicles. In the event of a possible crash detection, it applies the brakes automatically and prevents the vehicle from crashing out. In most cases, the detection would be done using a camera, Radar and a smart algorithm that analyses these feeds. The dash camera recording also has beep sounds from inside the cabin. These indicate the AEB system in action.

Wondering what impact the crash made on both vehicles? Well, the SUV seems to have suffered no damage from the incident. The biker, on the other hand, seems to have hit his hand on the handlebar, during the crash. Since the bike locked its wheel and steering during the crash, the user likely sustained minor injuries.

The video also explains how important it is to have a dashboard camera in every car. These can be fitted easily in almost all vehicle models. It would help in documenting your journeys. These visuals can be retrieved and further shared/ produced as evidence if needed.

Some manufacturers like Hyundai/Kia also offer integrated dashboard cameras. Major dash camera models offer features like loop recording, 4K recording and wifi/Bluetooth connectivity. In a country like India, where road accidents are expanding daily in their counts, these are worthy investments. .