Mercedes-Benz can enable help to traffic accident victims more quickly

When the QR code is scanned, with an existing internet connection the rescue card can be quickly accessed to provide safety-relevant vehicle informations.

Mercedes-Benz is the first car manufacturer to provide digital access to a vehicle-specific rescue card by means of a QR code.

When an accident occurs and the vehicle is seriously damaged, the first thing the rescue services must do is free the occupants. This can be dangerous for all those involved if information about the vehicle is not available. So for the rescue workers, quick access to the rescue card is important.

It contains all the construction details specific to that vehicle model, such as the location of airbags, battery and fuel tanks, so that equipment such as a hydraulic cutter can be used safely. Already today all manufacturers have rescue cards available for fitting on all their vehicle models.

Daimler is the world’s first car manufacturer to offer direct access to vehicle-specific rescue cards by means of a QR code. “Electronic access by means of a QR code enables Mercedes-Benz to support in the rescue of accident victims”, says Christian Treiber, Director, Service & Parts for Passenger Cars at Mercedes-Benz Global Service & Parts. “The sticker is easy to retrofit to second-hand cars. So this safety benefit is something we can offer not just to owners of new Mercedes-Benz vehicles.”

The QR code has been fitted as standard in all new Mercedes-Benz cars since the end of 2013 and is to be fitted in smart vehicles starting in January of this year. With immediate effect, the QR code can be installed in all Mercedes-Benz and smart used vehicles manufactured from 1990 onwards.

The fitting must be done by an authorised Mercedes-Benz or smart service station. Treiber: “In many countries, we are offering our customers the chance to have the QR code retrofitted free of charge.” For ease of access, the QR code stickers are attached to the fuel filler flap and the B-pillar on the opposite side.

Accident investigators have established that these two areas offer easy external access and only in rare cases are both of them seriously damaged.The black-and-white scannable symbol can be seen practically everywhere today: on adverts, packaging and even on business cards.

It comprises a string of characters that enable a quick response (hence QR) and take the user to a predetermined web address. When the code is scanned with a smartphone or tablet, with an existing internet connection the rescue card can be quickly accessed to provide safety-relevant vehicle informations.

The rescue card is currently available in seven languages, and from February in 23 languages, and will display in the language of the end user’s mobile device. If the language required is not available, the text will revert to English.

An app for the emergency services that will allow the rescue card to be read even without an internet connection is planned to be available by the end of June 2014. Mercedes-Benz has waived its right to make a patent application so that the technology will be available for everyone.

For more information on QR code rescue cards visit www.mercedes-benz.com

 

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