A bold Vision. A compelling Purpose.
Zero Fatalities. Zero Injuries. Zero Accidents. It's our vision for a safer world.
“It’s time to put accidents in a museum. And that’s no longer a Utopian vision.” So said Dr Elmar Degenhart, our chairman of the Executive Board back in 2017 as he outlined our bold plans for the future: evolving from best in braking to zero fatalities, zero injuries and zero accidents. This is an ambitious challenge, but one that we believe we can rise to. It's a vision we've pursued relentlessly ever since.
Working to make driving safer has been part of our DNA since we began. And with our comprehensive knowledge of all things automotive, we’re uniquely positioned to play our part in making roads safer everywhere. In pursuing our Vision Zero, we're focusing on three core areas: Tyres, Safety Technology and Drivers.
Creating the safest and most reliable tyres.
Road safety begins where the tyres touch the ground. Continental has always developed what we consider the safest and most reliable tyres possible. This is supported in independent tests, where Continental tyres have been awarded the highest level of rating in 715 of 863 tyre tests over the last decade. Continental tyres are widely acknowledged as being ‘best in braking’ and it’s a reputation we’re proud of.
New tyres on an old car:
The easiest safety improvement for your vehicle
To prove how important tyres are to safety, a unique test was conducted as the snow came down on our Austrian proving grounds. We took an old BMW with no ESP (Electronic Stability Programme) and fitted new tyres. A newer BMW, boasting the latest ESP system was fitted with older style tyres. Then we set about testing. The difference between the two BMWs, other than the tyres, was 15 years and all the innovation that came in that time. Yet the results were decisive. The much older BMW performed markedly better, cornering in the snow with vastly reduced slip and drift.
This test proved the importance of tyre innovation and how modern tread patterns and compounds can increase safety. For older vehicles, adding new Continental tyres is likely the most significant improvement you can make to your vehicle. Yet we know there is more to safety than tyres. Indeed, we know this better than anyone else.
Automotive expertise From the brake pedal to the tyre
We're much more than a tyre company; we're an automotive technology company. As well as tyres, we develop and manufacture a massive range of automotive componentry including Adaptive Cruise Control, Emergency Brake Assist, Lane Assistance Technology, Road Departure Protection, Anti-Skid braking systems, and much more.
Because of this, we have a comprehensive understanding of all the forces that dictate vehicle performance and handling, not just of tyres. No other major tyre manufacturer has this understanding of everything between the tyre and the pedal.
Some of the Automotive Componentry that we manufacture includes:
Emergency Brake Assist (EBA)
Emergency Brake Assist is a proactive system which initiates automatic braking as soon as the host vehicle comes critically close to a vehicle in front, or if a pedestrian steps out into the road. As a result, stopping distances can be reduced significantly. EBA is also used on commercial vehicles, to prevent forward collisions with potentially serious consequences.
Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) uses the same radar infrastructure as Blind Spot Detection (BSD) and can prevent accidents when backing out of parking spaces. In situations like this, where visibility is often severely restricted, the consequences of the accidents that occur can be quite serious, often involving not only damage to vehicles but also personal injury.
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
ACC goes one better than conventional cruise control by allowing the vehicle to automatically adapt its speed to the traffic in front. Capable of operating right down to stop-go speeds, it offers drivers a new quality of mobility even on ordinary day-to-day trips like the commute to work, resulting in a safer and more relaxed journey, however busy the traffic.
Road Departure Protection (RDP)
Road Departure Protection is an extension of Lane Departure Warning and the Lane Keeping System. Whereas LDW and LKS confine themselves to warning the driver if the vehicle shows signs of straying from its lane, RDP actively intervenes by steering the vehicle back on course, keeping it safely on the road and avoiding serious accidents.
Intelligent Headlamp Control (IHC)
IHC is designed to improve visibility – both for the host vehicle and for oncoming traffic – when driving in the dark. Like an electronic co-pilot, the system takes over the tiring job of continuously switching between dipped and main beam. The system detects both oncoming vehicles and vehicles in front traveling in the same direction. It then adjusts the head- lights to provide optimal lighting in all situations.
Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR)
Traffic Sign Recognition reminds drivers of the prevailing speed limit via an in-vehicle display. This application uses the same camera as the Lane Departure Warning System. In combination with high-performance software, the system can even identify and recognise signs with variable speed restrictions which only apply in specific circumstances.
Blind Spot Detection (BSD)
Blind Spot Detection (BSD) can help to make driving significantly less stressful, and at the same time reduce accident risks. Sensors monitor the area traditionally known as the driver‘s blind spot, behind and to the side of the host vehicle and give a warning if, for example, the driver starts to pull out when there is no available space in the overtaking lane.
Road Departure Protection (RDP)
Road Departure Protection is an extension of Lane Departure Warning and the Lane Keeping System. Whereas LDW and LKS confine themselves to warning the driver if the vehicle shows signs of straying from its lane, RDP actively intervenes by steering the vehicle back on course, keeping it safely on the road and avoiding serious accidents.
It’s time to put accidents in a museum. And that’s no longer a Utopian vision.
Making cities a safer place.
With the number of cars increasing and traffic density on the rise, mobility through the inner city is more complex than ever before. As traffic situations increase risk, we are developing new technologies to support safer movement. Technology such as the transparent bonnet, where you can effectively ‘see through’ the front of the car for greater parking accuracy. Our Pedestrian Protection system reduces the risk of head energy by using special actuators to raise the car bonnet when a collision is detected. Yet Vision Zero calls for zero accidents. That’s where connected technology between automobiles is being developed, alerting drivers to dangers, be them from accidents up ahead or a change to driving conditions and the threat of aqua-planning.
When cars can talk to their environment, smart traffic management and traffic lights will ensure optimal traffic flows and fewer critical situations on the road. For example, smart traffic lights will be able to adapt to the changing volume of traffic and react accordingly, ensuring the safest and fastest change of lights to maintain vehicle movement flow.
As technology and artificial intelligence in vehicles progress, we are working with institutions and Governments to establish the necessary legal framework. We need to be able to answer who is responsible for what and when. Continental welcomes the initiative taken by the G7 states to create a harmonised legal framework, designed to avoid different regulations in different countries. This progress paves the way for driving automation on some roads from 2025.
Joining Forces to Stop the Crash
A Global Safety Initiative
Partnering with international road safety charity, Global NCAP, Continental is helping promote the use of life saving crash avoidance technologies around the world.
This initiative aims to increase the uptake of the proven life-saving technologies, whilst providing education about the importance of tyre tread depth and keeping tyres inflated to the correct pressure.
In developing countries, the campaign is providing information and training on the importance of specific vehicle safety features such as Electronic Stability Control, Autonomous Vehicle Braking and Anti-Lock Brakes. This is extended to include tyre knowledge as we search for a greater level of awareness of the impact on safety from where tyres meet the road.
New Worlds of Mobility Technology for tomorrow's freedom
In the early days, the automobile was a symbol of freedom. It stood for opportunity and adventure. As cars became faster, the roads more complex and traffic increased, the risk from driving has dampened that symbolic freedom. Vision Zero is our commitment to reducing that risk, so we can all enjoy greater mobility once more and the opportunities and sense of freedom that comes with it.
The Future of Automotive is arriving.
And that means safer, more enjoyable journeys.