“If we don't know exactly how the assistance systems in our vehicles work, they can't reach their full potential,” says Mayländer. ”A simple handover at the dealership is usually not enough to understand the intricacies of these systems. Of course, it's all in the manual, but you have to read and understand it first. A comprehensive introduction is, of course, something completely different.”
From the experienced racing driver's point of view, the right setup of the respective systems, depending on the driving style, is also crucial. “For example, the lane departure warning system can often be individually adjusted in terms of the point at which it intervenes as well as in terms of its sensitivity. The same applies to the advance warning time for the emergency braking assistant or for the distance you want your assistance system to keep to a vehicle in front.”
Regardless of which assistance systems are on board, you should never rely on them blindly, says Bernd Mayländer: “The best safety system cannot override the laws of physics.”
In his view, this makes anticipatory driving all the more important – paying full attention to the task of driving. “This way, many a critical situation never arises in the first place,” says Mayländer.
If it does come to a critical situation, however, drivers can benefit from having completed a driver safety training course. Mayländer thinks this should actually be standard. “It's simply a great advantage to have first-hand experience of how modern vehicles with ABS and ESC can be safely controlled in a critical situation.” Proper counter-steering and a rapid reduction of speed can, in many cases, prevent a collision – or at least significantly reduce the severity of a crash.
That is why Mayländer advocates impactful training in emergency braking maneuvers: “Accident analyses show that many people react too late and not with the necessary intensity. That is a mistake. With the ABS in today's vehicles, it is impossible to brake ‘too hard’. Therefore, the motto can only be to really slam on the brakes in an emergency,” advises the DEKRA brand ambassador.
To ensure that the steering and braking intervention is successful, for example when swerving, the correct sitting position and steering wheel grip are also important. Mayländer recommends sitting relatively upright and holding the steering wheel with both hands at around “9 and 3 o'clock” on the spokes, with slightly bent arms. Your legs should also be bent at a normal driving angle so that you can muster maximum strength for a quick reaction.
Particularly at high speeds and in critical situations, your line of vision is also an important factor, Mayländer says: “Wherever you look, that's where you steer.”
Caption
On the occasion of UN Road Safety Week, DEKRA brand ambassador and Formula 1 safety car driver Bernd Mayländer calls for sensible and anticipatory driving.