Before an accident, valuable seconds slip by in which the danger could possibly still be averted. In the Tourismo, the ESP® and BAS sensors detect critical driving situations such as strong oversteer or understeer, critical steering movements, panic and emergency braking at an early stage. 

Increased driving safety is also offered by the directional stability of the chassis and the calm steering. This is achieved by the independent suspension on the front axle. 

Regardless of the Adaptive Cruise Control (ART) function, Active Brake Assist 4 (ABA 4) warns the driver prior to a collision with an obstacle and independently brakes the coach. To this end, the radar-controlled system constantly scans an area of up to 250 metres of the lane in front of the coach.

As the world’s first system of its kind, ABA 4 also reacts to pedestrians. Therefore, in addition to moving vehicles and stationary obstacles ahead (e.g. the tail-end of a traffic jam), the system also detects pedestrians within 80 metres. For example, should the distance to pedestrians be dangerously reduced, the system alerts the driver by means of visual and acoustic warning signals, while initiating partial braking through to a standstill if the driver does not respond. The partial braking provides the driver with the possibility of avoiding the collision by means of a full braking or steering maneuver. Additionally, he can warn endangered pedestrians in time using the vehicle’s horn.

The Adaptive Cruise Control* (ART) feature relieves the driver by maintaining a constant distance — defined by the driver — from the vehicle ahead, based on continuous measurements. This not only increases safety on country roads and highways, but also convenience. A radar system, which guarantees outstanding functionality even under poor weather conditions and in the dark, monitors a distance of up to 250 metres in front of the vehicle and to the full width of the road.

Should a variably defined security distance to the vehicle driving ahead be undercut, ART slows down the coach so that the safety zone is maintained. Many rear-impact collisions can therefore be avoided. Unlike the emergency assistant Active Brake Assist 4 (ABA 4), ART initiates a smooth braking with a maximum of 20 per cent of its possible power.

The Electronic Stability Program (ESP®) is an active system for increasing driving safety and stability. It makes a noticeable contribution to reducing the risk of skidding during cornering or evasive manoeuvres. This is achieved by specifically controlling the braking forces on each individual wheel in critical, dynamic driving situations, for example if the coach approaches physical limits when cornering. At the same time, the engine output is reduced. A possible "breaking-out" of the coach is thus prevented by the finely metered braking within the limits of the physical possibilities.

Among other things, ESP® monitors the lateral acceleration of the bus. If, on long bends – such as motorway exits – or with rapid lane changes, the bus reaches a critical driving situation, the vehicle speed is automatically reduced so the bus returns to a situation of driving stability. ESP® is comparable with the system installed in cars but provides additional functions adapted for use in buses.