Riding a bus has proven to be the safest form of travel. The risk of having an accident is many times higher in individual transport. Providing the greatest possible safety is the challenge that Mercedes-Benz sets for its touring coaches – a challenge that it meets in exemplary style.

The strength of the bus‘s body is a key factor for its passive safety. Its resilience can help prevent consequences from an accident. The high strength of bus bodies from Mercedes-Benz buses is guaranteed in part by ongoing, weight-optimised annular frame members. The body’s strength is defined according to the regulation ECE-R 66. It specifies the exact "survival space" which should be guaranteed by the structural design in the event of an accident.

The Electronic Stability Program ESP® is an active system which improves handling safety and stability. It contributes significantly to reducing the risk of skidding when negotiating turns or making evasive manoeuvres. It does this in critical handling situations through targeted braking interventions at each individual wheel, for instance if the bus is moving at critical limits in a curve. At the same time the engine output is reduced, with the effect that precisely regulated braking interventions prevent the bus from skidding, as far as this is physically possible.

ESP® monitors factors such as the lateral acceleration of the bus. If a critical handling dynamic situation is reached in lengthy curves – such as motorway exits – or when making a sudden change of lane, the vehicle’s speed is automatically reduced to a level that re-establishes handling stability. The ESP® is comparable to that used in passenger cars, but is adapted for use in buses thanks to specific extended features.

Front Collision Guard FCG is a unique passive safety system for protecting the driver and tour guide in the event of a front collision. Front Collision Guard is made up of a complex safety system. It begins with a transverse profile which creates an underride guard to protect other road users in the event of an accident and can for example intercept a passenger car. The frame under this profile is composed of crash elements which absorb energy in a targeted manner if impact occurs.

In addition the driver’s seat including the steering, pedals and seat are positioned on a massive frame section which can completely slide backwards if a frontal collision should occur, thus increasing the survival space by several crucial centimetres. The developers not only created the Front Collision Guard based on calculations but also subsequently tested its effectiveness in several crash tests. FCG also already meets future legal standards for pendulum impact tests for buses.