PressClub Portugal · Article.
Exemplary safety in urban road traffic: Euro NCAP Advanced award goes to the Driving Assistant in the new MINI.
Wed Dec 10 12:00:00 CET 2014 Informação à Imprensa
European testing institute recognises camera-based system as groundbreaking innovation for accident avoidance.
Press Contact.
Joao Trincheiras
BMW Group
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Author.
Joao Trincheiras
BMW Group
Munich. The new MINI in the premium small car segment
is the leader not just when it comes to driving fun but also in the
field of active safety. This status has now been confirmed by the
independent safety testing institute Euro NCAP (New Car Assessment
Programme), in particular due to the new driver assistance systems.
MINI has received the Euro NCAP Advanced award 2014 for its pedestrian
warning system with city braking function. The system forms part of
the Driving Assistant option for the new MINI 3 door and the new MINI
5 door and is rated by safety experts as a groundbreaking innovation
in reducing the risk of accidents in urban traffic.
The Euro NCAP Advanced award has been in existence since 2010:
sponsored by European governments, automobile clubs and insurance
companies, it recognises outstanding developments that have resulted
in major advancements in the area of active safety and occupant
protection. The award focuses especially on novel systems whose impact
is groundbreaking in that they go beyond the requirements of the Euro
NCAP crash test recognised throughout Europe.
MINI presented the pedestrian warning with city braking function
at the market launch of the new generation of the original in the
premium small car segment, incorporating it in the program of special
equipment features. In the Driving Assistant option available for all
model variants of the MINI 3 door and the MINI 5 door, it is combined
with active cruise control, high beam assistant, road sign detection
and collision warning with city braking function. This functional
diversity makes the Driving Assistant a particularly attractive option
as it significantly enhances both comfort and safety when driving the
new MINI.
The pedestrian warning with city braking function which has
received the Euro NCAP award is active within a speed range of 10 to
60 km/h. Using a camera installed on the windscreen in the area of the
rear view mirror, the system analyses images and warns the driver in
situations where there is a risk of collision with a pedestrian. The
driver is initially given a visual indication in the form of a graphic
symbol in the instrument panel, while at the second warning level an
acoustic signal is added to prompt a reaction. At the same time, an
automatic brake manoeuvre is initiated with medium deceleration force.
This element on its own considerably reduces the risk of collision.
The driver also feels the initial braking effect - an unmistakable
indication to take action which greatly contributes to accident avoidance.
The effectiveness of the pedestrian warning with city braking
function was subjected to extensive testing and confirmed by the
independent Euro NCAP test laboratory. This was the basis for the
system being selected for the Euro NCAP Advanced award 2014.