In 1997 a so-called "moose test", an evasive manoeuvre without braking at a speed between 60 and 65 km/h, led to improvements in the Mercedes A-class after two vehicles rolled over in this manoeuvre. The new A-class was presented to the press in January '98: more than 450 journalists from all over Europe tested the improved vehicle during a vehicle dynamics workshop at the Goodyear Proving Ground in Mireval/France. Five vehicles were equipped with data acquisition units providing data on the driver's input at steering wheel (angle and velocity) and foot pedals as well as on vehicle reactions (speed, lateral acceleration, yaw rate) and the interference of the Electronic Stability Programme (ESP). More than 2,000 tests conducted by over 400 journalists and experts were analysed in detail and compared to 131 moose tests performed by normal drivers. In addition, 30 normal drivers drove more than 15,000 km in real road traffic. The evaluation produces characteristic values of driver performance in extreme evasive manoeuvres on a test track compared with normal driving. The influences of individual driving style on test performance are analysed.
Abstract