We live in times where cars have started to resemble more like appliances, and people buying cars often consider the long list of features before making any decision. Many affordable cars in India now offer premium features such as a panoramic sunroof, ventilated seats, and so on. One such premium feature making an appearance in recently launched cars is ADAS. Cars like Mahindra XUV700, Hyundai Verna, Creta, and Kia Seltos offer level 2 ADAS features. An important feature in ADAS is AEB, or Automatic Emergency Braking. In a video shared by 61 Garage on their YouTube channel, we see the Automatic Emergency Braking system in a GLC 220d luxury SUV avoiding an accident with a biker.
The video was recorded by the dash camera of the luxury SUV as it passed through a narrow road in a village in Kerala. Many roads passing through villages and towns are very narrow, making driving on them a constant challenge. In this particular video, the SUV was navigating through one such narrow road, maintaining a speed of only 20-30 km/h.
Approaching a narrow bridge, the driver honked a couple of times before crossing to ensure that vehicles coming from the opposite direction could slow down or wait. Just after the bridge, there was a right-hand curve, and we also see a person walking on the side of the road. The car slowed down at the curve, and at that moment, a Royal Enfield motorcycle approached from the opposite direction.
Although the car driver was cautious, the biker was coming in at a good speed, taking the curve too wide. It seemed like he was not expecting any vehicle from the opposite direction. Upon seeing the GLC SUV, he was surprised and immediately pressed the brakes. The rear wheels locked, causing the biker to lose balance. His handlebars locked, and he collided with the bumper of the SUV. It’s worth noting that during this incident, the Mercedes-Benz GLC was actually stationary. The Automatic Emergency Braking system and the Forward Collision Warning system were active in the car.
Inside the cabin, we can hear beeps when the AEB function was working before the crash. The SUV detected the biker and promptly applied brakes. The SUV had already come to a stop, and it was the biker who collided with the stationary SUV. This video illustrates how helpful features like these can be for the driver. ADAS features are designed to assist the driver and make their life easier, as demonstrated in this case. Although the bike did collide with the SUV, it appears that the SUV sustained no damage. The biker hit his hand on the handlebar while trying to control the bike and likely sustained injuries. It’s important to note that there are videos showing people misusing features like lane-keep assist and adaptive cruise control on highways. Such behavior is completely unacceptable, dangerous, and we strongly advise against attempting such stunts on public roads. Mercedes-Benz is India’s largest luxury car manufacturer. In fact, they have the largest number of models available for sale in India, even more than Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, or any other car manufacturer currently present in the Indian market.