The newest Mercedes-Benz vehicles generally boast an expansive suite of advanced driver assistance systems that help make the driving experience as safe and fatigue-free as possible. One such system is Mercedes Active Steering Assist. Its primary function is to prevent unintentional drifting or lane changes that can lead to an accident.
Active Steering Assists helps keep the vehicle in the center of a highway lane by making minor steering adjustments when the driver has both hands on the steering wheel and is traveling at a speed of 130 mph or less. The system utilizes the vehicle’s camera and radar systems to evaluate lane markings and the position and velocity of other vehicles on the road ahead. It also uses other structures along the roadway to help orient the car as it travels forward.
Drivers can turn Active Steering Assist on or off within the multimedia infotainment system. When the system is active, a gray steering wheel icon appears in the gauge cluster. Active Steering Assist only works when another system—Active Distance Assist Distronic—is engaged. Active Distance Assist Distronic is Mercedes’ version of adaptive cruise control, which uses radar to adjust speed based on the movement of a vehicle ahead and can brake or accelerate automatically. When both systems are engaged, the steering wheel icon in the gauge cluster changes from gray to green.
Once Active Steering Assist is on, the system makes minor left and right interventions that the driver will feel through the steering wheel. It’s important to remember that the system is only a driver aid and does not serve as an autonomous function. It is unable to keep the vehicle in its lane for extended periods. As such, Active Steering Assist requires manual intervention from the driver in specific situations like roundabouts, off-ramps, or junctions.
For Active Steering Assist to function, the driver must always keep their hands on the steering wheel and be able to intervene at any time. If the system reaches its maximum speed, the driver doesn’t steer the vehicle for a long time, or the driver removes their hands from the steering wheel, Active Steering Assist will provide an initial visual warning in the driver display. If the driver fails to steer or place their hands back on the steering wheel, repeated audible tones will accompany the visual alerts to capture the driver’s attention.
Ultimately, Active Steering Assist is only an aid. The driver is responsible for keeping a safe distance from the vehicle in front, controlling vehicle speed, applying appropriate braking, and staying in the correct lane. Before changing lanes, the driver should ensure the neighboring lane is free by checking mirrors and glancing over their shoulder.
Certain road, weather, and light conditions can also affect the system. Therefore, attentive observation of traffic conditions and the vehicle’s surroundings is always required. The system may not function properly in the following circumstances:
The system does not provide assistance in the following conditions:
Mercedes-Benz Active Steering Assist is one of the automaker’s many smart and intuitive technology features that helps makes the everyday driving experience safer and better. Still, the driver must be alert with their hands on the steering wheel.
Jessica Shea Choksey is an experienced writer in the automotive field. In addition to JDPower.com, she was a correspondent for PBS’s MotorWeek. Her work has also appeared in AutoTrader.
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