I'd been behind the wheel of a 2011 Mercedes-Benz R350 BlueTEC for less than 10 minutes when it happened: The vehicle took off on its own as I prepared to make a right turn. And on a downtown street crowded with people, no less. I instinctively stabbed the brakes but still felt like an idiot.
I looked down once I stopped and noticed that my left hand landed on the cruise control stalk instead of the adjacent turn signal. Thinking that I was signaling for a right turn, I instead engaged cruise.
This isn't a new issue, since Mercedes has used this steering-wheel stalk setup for years. It's also not the first time I've encountered it, and presumably owners get used to it after a while. But with all the hysteria over unintended acceleration, I can see how this could cause confusion -- if not an accident.
I prefer cruise-control buttons on the steering wheel and find them easier to use. One advantage of the Mercedes setup is you don't have to hit an extra button or switch to turn cruise on. But without familiarization a driver could end up in the same situation that I did.
Mercedes went to great lengths to update the exterior of the 2011 R Class. Too bad the interior didn't get a similar makeover. And the misplaced cruise-control stalk is still there.
By greenpony
on August 18, 2010
09:55 AM
Maybe if they made the stalk shorter people would be less apt to mistake it for a turn signal stalk.
By vvk
on August 26, 2010
11:45 AM
One thing you can't fault Diamler Benz for is inconsistency. This setup has been used for a really long time. Owners are used to this, it is not a problem.