Mercedes-Benz ML-Class rear-ends Tata Safari; Here is the result

Getting rear-ended in a slowing down traffic is one of the worst kinds of accidents. It is quite common on the roads, especially on the highways though. Here is an accident between a Tata Safari and a Mercedes-Benz ML-Class that shows the build quality of the Indian brand.

The incident happened on a highway in Tamil Nadu. The exact location remains unknown though. According to the information, the owner of Tata Safari was doing about 80 km/h when he spotted a number of cars slowing down to take a U-Turn. As the Tata Safari slowed down, a Mercedes-Benz ML-Class hit the SUV from the rear.

Also read: Coming soon: Tata Safari Dark Edition

The pictures show damage to both vehicles. The tailgate of the Tata Safari is deformed and due to the impact, the spare wheel of the car also came out and fell on the road. The Mercedes-Benz ML-Class also has severe damage on the left-hand side near the headlamp.

All the passengers in both vehicles did not feel much during the accident and everyone came out of the car safe and sound. There are no injuries reported in this accident. However, the video mentions that the airbags of the Mercedes-Benz ML-Class did not deploy.

Why the airbags did not deploy?

There can be multiple reasons for the non-deployment of airbags. First of all, to deploy the airbags, the cars need to be at a minimum required speed. If the vehicle is not at a minimum speed set by the manufacturer, the impact will not trigger the airbags to open. Since the airbags are supplemental restraint systems, they are not required in slow-speed accidents.

Also, the pictures of the car show that the impact on the Mercedes-Benz is not exactly head-on. In many such cases, the airbags are not triggered to ensure that the passengers are not hurt due to the deployment of the airbags.

Tata Harrier and Safari are yet to be tested

While many newer products of Tata Motors are tested by G-NCAP, Tata never sent the Harrier and Safari to get a safety rating. While Tata has remained tight-lipped about the same. However, according to the experts, a part Multijet engine in the Tata Harrier can intrude into the cabin of the RHD cars and injure the driver. That is why Tata is yet to send the car for a crash safety test.

However, numerous accidents in the past involving the Tata Harrier show how great the build quality of the SUV is. In most accidents, the occupants walk out of the crash unhurt.

In future, crash safety tests will become mandatory as the government has proposed. All the manufacturers will have to send the new cars for crash tests to get a safety star rating if the proposal becomes law.

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