ABC #396

NEWS
SAFETY FOCUS FOR DAIMLER EUROPE
A RECENT LIFTING of a driving ban for
German bus companies during the
coronavirus pandemic has emboldened
Daimler’s push for enhanced driver and
passenger safety – with a “high level of
fresh air” and “space-enhancing seating
variants” - more so now firmly in focus, the
company has announced.
According to Daimler Buses, with the
market for bus travel reviving again in
some segments, it is ‘guaranteeing’ travel
on a Mercedes-Benz or Setra bus will
afford “the highest possible level of safety
with excellent comfort”.
Head of Daimler Buses Till Oberwörder
says he strives to keep things that way.
“The safety of passengers and drivers in
our touring coaches is top priority for us.
That is why we are offering our customers
numerous retrofit solutions to protect
against infection for our Mercedes-Benz
and Setra buses,” Oberwörder explained.
“By continuously further developing our
vehicles with regard to safety and climate
comfort, we are doing everything to ensure
that passengers and drivers always arrive
safely at their destination and in the best
of health.”
a minute is possible, it claims.
Depending on the type of bus, the
external temperature and the type of
air conditioning, a 100 per cent level of
fresh air in the passenger compartment is
possible, it confirms.
For vehicles with passive ventilation
elements, such as hinged windows and
roof hatches, ventilation is via manual
operation of these components, it adds.
Longer opening times of doors on
regular-service buses at bus stops, for
example, can also have a positive effect on
the exchange of fresh air, it states.
FILTER REPLACEMENT
Setra ComfortClass and Mercedes-Benz
Tourismo buses are available with
roof-mounted air conditioning. The
low-maintenance and low-consumption
systems are equipped with a
high-performance condenser blower and
enlarged air filters, which help remove
dust and should be replaced every six
months, Daimler advises.
With the three output categories – 32kW,
35kW and 39kW – the coaches provide
the right climate control for every area of
operation and each vehicle length, the
touring coaches is “picking up pace”,
it says.
Further measures include the
optimisation of air conditioning filters
and the definition of measures ensuring
optimum ventilation of the vehicle when it
is stationary.
The company’s engineers are working
at full speed to increase the level of fresh
air even further, and further reduce the
concentration of critical air components
in buses, which in future can also be
equipped with sanitiser dispensers,
Daimler outlines.
GAME OF THRONES
Besides its usual extensive passive and
active safety features – such as active
brake assist 4 (ABA 4), the new sideguard
assist (SGA), autonomous intelligent
cruise control (AICC), the driver-focussed
attention assist (AtAs) and front collision
guard (FCG) – the coaches include seats
with comfortable seat backs and sprung
seat cushions, low-vibration armrests,
and individually adjustable luxury head
restraints together with intuitive operation
(with integrated seat belts and a defined
impact zone).
FRESHER AIR PUSH
In a Mercedes-Benz or Setra touring coach,
fully automatic integral air conditioning
or fully-functional roof-mounted air
conditioning provide for an evenly
distributed temperature – from the first to
the last row of seats, Daimler states.
The vehicles have powerful climate
control systems with high airflow, which
develop their maximum efficiency when
the doors and windows are closed, it
says. Depending on the air conditioning
system, a complete change of air under
company explains.
ADDITIONAL MEASURES
In order to give passengers and drivers
even better protection in the further
course of the Covid-19 pandemic, Daimler
Buses offers retrofit solutions for driver
protection screens made of glass and
polycarbonate plastic, it says.
They are already available for the
Mercedes-Benz Citaro and for the Setra
LE business low-entry inter-city bus.
Preparation work for their installation in
BUS TRAVEL IDEAL
Citing the Association of German Bus
Operators (bdo), it explains that: “…
travelling by bus is not only comfortable,
but also a safe and clean travel option.
This is confirmed by studies from the TÜV
testing organisation, as well as in figures
from the German Federal Statistics Office.”
“TÜV continues to confirm this year
after year: in Germany, coaches and buses
are the safest means of transport,” says a
declaration by the bdo, Daimler points out.
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ABC August 2020 busnews.com.au