The work that Mercedes-Benz undertakes to ensure all its vehicles are as safe as possible has been recognised by the German Traffic Safety Council and two other watchdog groups.

The company was awarded the 2007 European Commercial Vehicle Safety Award for its work on the Active Brake Assist technology – a system which helps improve the operating safety of commercial vehicles.

At an award ceremony in Brandenburg, Jurgen Trost accepted the award on behalf of the team of designers and engineers who worked on the project.

Mr Trost is the head of the driver assistance systems department which developed the system. Previously, Mr Trost’s safety work for Mercedes-Benz was recognised when his team was nominated for a German Future Award in 2002 and won the Yellow Angel award from the German Automobile Association.

When Mercedes-Benz launched the Active Brake Technology in some of its commercial vehicles last year, it was marketed as the “world’s safest truck”.

By automatically initiating emergency breaking procedures, Mercedes-Benz’s Active Brake Technology was designed as part of the company’s ‘safety suit’.