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Mercedes-Benz claims if every vehicle on German roads is fitted with its Distronic Plus, pictured above, and Brake Assist Plus technologies, about 20 per cent of rear-end collisions could be avoided.
On motorways, the quoted figure is higher at 36 per cent.
The systems warn drivers when they are maintaining too little distance from the vehicle travelling in front and provide support in the event of emergency braking.
Mercedes-Benz has long studied the results of traffic accidents involving its vehicles.
Engineers working for the Stuttgart-based car maker have now developed a procedure to make a predictive calculation of the usefulness of the new safety technology. They have taken into account official statistics and the analysis of about 16,000 traffic accidents.
