New Technology to Put an End to Fishtailing Trailers
Does towing a trailer intimidate you? If you said yes to this question, you're hardly alone as most drivers have either seen or experienced a trailer "fishtailing" behind its tow vehicle.
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| Does towing a trailer in your old M-Class intimidate you? Mercedes has come to your rescue. (Photo: Mercedes Canada) |
Fishtailing, if you're not aware, is when a trailer oscillates back and forth in its lane uncontrollably, often due to a poorly made/maintained trailer or improperly distributed load, with the driver needing to slow down to restore stability or in the worst case scenario, if it goes unnoticed or the driver doesn't know what to do to stop the swaying, causing an accident and possible rollover.
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| The new Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) system will be on all 2006 M-Class sport utilities purchased as of late August, 2005. (Photo: Mercedes Canada) |
Mercedes-Benz wants to make fishtailing trailers an event of the past by introducing its new Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) system on all 2006 M-Class sport utilities purchased as of late August, 2005.
TSA works in conjunction with the M-Class' Electronic Stability Program (ESP), the system that keeps Mercedes-Benz's recently updated SUV from skidding out of control in slippery conditions, and like ESP has been designed to enhance safety when towing a trailer.
Through various sensors normally attributed just to the vehicle's ESP, TSA will initiate the appropriate brake applications to the front wheels which will then stabilize the SUV and trailer.