In 1978 Mercedes-Benz offered ABS in the S-Class, developed with Bosch. In full braking, a computer watches each wheel and reduces the brake pressure automatically, so the car can still be steered. The driver airbag with belt tensioner followed in the S-Class. Its public world premiere was in February 1981.
In late 2002 PRE-SAFE came to the S-Class of the 2003 model series. It recognizes dangerous situations in advance and prepares the occupants before a possible crash. In 2009 ATTENTION ASSIST followed in the E-Class and S-Class. It judges the driver’s tiredness mainly from steering movements, with more than 70 parameters. When the driver needs a break, a coffee cup appears on the instrument panel.