Setra 2021 – safer than ever before

• Consistently further development of driver assistance systems
• ABA4 automatically initiates a partial application of the brakes in response to pedestrians
• Sideguard Assist warns in the event of pedestrians and cyclists
• Attention Assist keeps an eye on the bus driver
• Active filters with anti-viral functional layer filter out 99 percent of aerosols
• Daimler driver protection doors in glass or polycarbonate prevent droplet infections

The safety and protection of drivers, passengers and other road users has been in central focus at Setra for the past seven decades. A broad portfolio of driver assistance and safety systems saw their world premiere in Setra buses and, over the past years, have been subject to continued development and optimisation.
A fantastic example of the comprehensive concept which Daimler Buses has rolled out to increase active safety in their vehicles can be found in Active Brake Assist 4 (ABA4) which comes as standard in all Setra touring coaches. As the first system of its kind worldwide, it warns the driver of imminent collisions with moving pedestrians and simultaneously initiates automatic partial braking.

Monitoring the vehicle sides

Keep an eye out for pedestrians! Turning manoeuvres to the right in city traffic are among the most difficult tasks for a bus driver. Sideguard Assist aids the driver when turning off in the case of moving objects being detected on the door side of the vehicle and warning of their presence. It thus provides greater protection for pedestrians and cyclists in particular. At the heart of the system is a short-range radar sensor. It is fitted directly behind the front axle and monitors a zone up to three metres wide alongside the bus and can even detect multiple stationary and moving target objects simultaneously.

Sideguard Assist for buses saw its world premiere in 2018 in the S 531 DT double-decker bus, which was new at the time. In the meantime, it is also available as a retrofit solution for all Setra buses equipped with a CAN data bus and FMS interface – this means all current models and predecessor models up to at least model year 2010. Sideguard Assist is operational up to a speed of 30 km/h and uses a multi-stage concept: if a moving object is located in the monitored zone along the side of the bus, the driver is informed visually in a fraction of a second. A yellow LED lamp lights up at eye level on the A-pillar on the door side. If the right-hand turn signal is used simultaneously, the LED lights up red and a warning tone will additionally sound. The Attention Assist safety system, meanwhile, keeps an eye on the driver. Using a variety of criteria such as steering movements, brake use or vehicle speed, it constantly monitors information about the driver's activity level. Based on the correlation of the data obtained and the adapted driver profile, Attention Assist then determines, among other things, whether the driver is tired and warns them to take a break as necessary.

Crash elements protect the driver

The keyword here is passive safety. Front Collision Guard (FCG) – also a world first from Setra – offers a unique level of protection to the driver and tour guide. The system consists of a crossmember which forms an underride guard in the event of an accident. The structure behind this member consists of crash elements that specifically dissipate kinetic energy in the event of an impact. In addition, the driver's cockpit within the bus, including the steering wheel, pedals and seat, is mounted on a solid frame component that can move back entirely in the event of a serious head-on collision.

Protection against the Corona virus

Setra also offers the highest level of safety during this pandemic. In the fight against the Corona virus and in a bid to protect passengers and drivers alike, the brand makes sure that the ventilation system uses a high percentage of fresh air, a rapid exchange of the interior air and anti-viral high-performance particulate matter filters. The effectiveness of these protective measures has also been confirmed by the research report issued by the Hermann Rietschel Institute at the Technical University of Berlin in a study.

Ensuring non-critical aerosol values

The standard, fully automatic air conditioning systems reduce the risk of infection on-board the bus thanks to their rapid exchange of air. By extracting the air in the footwells, high-floor and high-deck touring coaches enjoy a continuous exchange of air which subsequently protects against an increased concentration of aerosols forming.
New active filters also increase the effectiveness of the air conditioning systems in buses. These multi-layer, progressively designed high-performance particle filters additionally feature an anti-viral functional layer which filters the finest aerosols. Proof of these anti-viral characteristics in accordance with ISO 18184 are provided by physical tests and micro-biological examinations. The new active filters are used for the roof-mounted air conditioning systems, for the air filters and also for the front climate control boxes. In this way, as much as 99 percent of aerosols can be filtered out of the air.

More fresh air supplied

At common outside temperatures between 8 and 26 degrees Celsius, the air conditioning system works in maximum fresh-air mode (between 80 and 100 percent). In this way air can be exchanged continuously and quickly, every one to two minutes.
Both at low and high temperatures, the air conditioning systems work in so-called mixed-air mode. Here, the renewal of fresh air in the interior occurs every four minutes. Upon customer request, the maximum percentage of fresh air in the air conditioning systems of the Setra ComfortClass 500, TopClass 500 and S 531 DT double-deckers, as well as in all inter-city buses can even be increased by either 33 or 40 percent by extending the outside temperature range for maximum fresh air supply upwards or downwards.

Driver protection doors for added safety

Drivers of buses also receive additional protection during this pandemic. In order to prevent droplet infections, a number of Setra buses have meanwhile been equipped with professional driver protection doors made of safety glass or high-grade plastic polycarbonate. These protective doors for drivers are available for new vehicles and as a retrofit solution. Hand hygiene is also particularly important. For this reason, the brand offers exclusively contactless hand sanitiser dispensers for installation on the door pivoting mechanism of their buses.