As they whiz around city traffic, cyclists and e-scooter riders are at risk of getting clotheslined by opening vehicle doors. Mercedes- Benz has adapted a common safety technology to reduce those collisions.
Mercedes' Exit Warning feature monitors the vehicle's blind spots even when the car is at a standstill — and even for three minutes after the ignition has been switched off.
"Safety doesn't stop when you turn the car off," said Pete Henke, product manager for Cross Carline Technology at Mercedes-Benz USA.
Exit Warning is part of Mercedes' Blind Spot Assist package and can detect passing vehicles, cyclists or motorbikes traveling at more than 5 mph. The safety feature delivers a visual alert in the side-view mirror, warning of an approaching moving object.
If the driver, or passengers, attempt to use the door handle, an additional audible warning will sound and the ambient door lighting will begin to flash red.
The feature debuted in the A-Class sedan that launched in the U.S. last year. The technology will now spread across the Mercedes lineup.
The extra safety feature offers owners peace of mind with minimal additional cost.
"There were no additional sensors necessary," Henke said. "We just kind of utilized what was there. A lot of our customers are probably never going to experience it. But that one time it does save you from getting run into, it's a feature that's worth it."
