QR codes to boost Mercedes safety in Canada
by Canadian Manufacturing.com Staff
Daimler's QR codes will provide first responders with safety-relevant vehicle information
TORONTO—When an serious accident occurs, the priority for the rescue services is to free the occupants. This is often a dangerous proposition for both occupants and first responders, since vehicles are equipped with many hazardous components such as high voltage wiring, fuel lines, airbags and SRS pyrotechnics, all of which can be compromised depending on the severity of the impact.
While information on these systems is readily available to rescue teams, it tends to exist a printed format or downloadable as a pdf document.
But Daimler today announced that this information on its vehicles can now be accessed by scanning a QR code with a smartphone, providing immediate access to a detailed rescue card which contains all of the structural details specific to a vehicle model, such as the location of airbags, battery, high strength steel (HSLA) and fuel tank so that rescue equipment can be used as safely and as quickly as possible to save lives.
Last year, Daimler announced that it would offer direct access to vehicle-specific rescue cards by means of a QR code. The QR code has been fitted as standard equipment in all new Mercedes-Benz cars since the end of 2013, Mercedes-Benz vans since August 2014 and smart vehicles since January 2014.
This benefit is not only limited to the owners of new vehicles. The QR code stickers can be installed for free by an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealership, in all Mercedes-Benz and smart pre-owned vehicles manufactured from 1990 onwards (1996 in the case of Mercedes-Benz vans).
When the black-and-white scannable symbol is scanned with a smartphone or tablet with an existing internet connection, the rescue card can be quickly accessed to provide safety-relevant vehicle information. The card is currently available in 23 languages and will display in the default language of the end user’s mobile device.
In addition, an App that does not require an Internet connection is now available to emergency services.
Mercedes-Benz has waived its patent rights to ensure that this technology is readily available to everyone.
