Convertible safety: Mercedes-Benz always ahead of the game
August 29 2020,
With a convertible, the question of safety is of paramount importance, because obviously, in the event of an accident or rollover, the occupants are more exposed.
At Mercedes-Benz, we are aware of this reality. In fact, the company has always been at the forefront of safety with its convertibles, as evidenced by the advances that were introduced with the SL roadster in 1989. At the time, this car was the safest convertible in history, with, among other things, roll bars that deployed in 0.3 seconds in the event of a rollover.
More than 30 years of innovation later, Mercedes-Benz is still ahead of the competition, as evidenced by the features that equip the convertibles offered by the company today. Three examples are quite striking.
First of all, there are still protective bars in the rear. These are normally invisible, but if an accident is detected and the airbags come into action, they emerge from their hiding place behind the rear headrests. In no time at all, the airbags reach their maximum deployment and lock into position, so if the car roll, the airbags will protect the occupants.
In addition, the front windshield frame is made of materials that offer increased resistance in the event of a rollover. Mercedes-Benz has been testing its convertibles for years to confirm the strength of this frame.
Finally, the brand's new convertibles are equipped with a head airbag system. Mounted in the area surrounding the door seat belt, it provides a greater layer of protection for the impact zone where the heads of the front occupants are normally located. In the rear, airbags offering the same type of protection are installed in the lower side panel area.
Add to this the findings of a recent study published by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The study concludes that people in convertibles are no more at risk than those in a model with a fixed hardtop. The driver fatality rate is even 11% lower.
Are Mercedes-Benz convertibles safe? There's no doubt about it.
