Setra Buses and Coaches, a Daimler brand, has delivered its first touring coach with Active Brake Assist (ABA). The bus company "Reisedienst Bölck" took delivery of the S 416 HDH model from the new TopClass 400 range at the Setra Customer Centre in Neu-Ulm, Germany.

The family-owned company from the town of Schuby in northern Germany has been a Setra customer since 1992 and counts a total of 16 Setra buses in its fleet. In addition to providing an attractive range of tours, the management board at Reisedienst Bölck gives top priority to safety, underlined by the fact that it is the only touring-coach company in the German state of Schleswig-Holstein to have been awarded the ADAC (German Automobile Association) Safety Certificate. This seal of quality certifies that the driver and vehicle meet all the ADAC safety criteria and, therefore, go way beyond the legal requirements when it comes to passenger safety.

Active Brake Assist (ABA) reacts to slower-moving vehicles in front by issuing a series of progressive warnings before initiating emergency braking if there is a risk of a collision. ABA is only effective when used alongside AICC (Autonomous Intelligent Cruise Control), whose sensors are used to detect vehicles in front of the bus. The system therefore actively helps to prevent head-to-tail collisions, meaning that it can save lives. If the bus comes to a halt following emergency braking, the hazard warning lights come on automatically. Customers who order AICC receive ABA at no extra charge.

In Germany, buses and coaches equipped with Active Brake Assist are entitled to a five-percent discount on third-party-liability insurance and fully comprehensive insurance.