One of the most dangerous habits that a driver can make it to let go of the steering wheel. Whether you are letting go to reach for something in the passenger seat or to check your phone – another big problem altogether – when you let go of your steering wheel you are taking a major risk.

Any small obstacle in the road like water or sand can send your car off in the wrong direction, and if you don’t have control of the steering wheel things can go from bad to worse in the blink of an eye. But Mercedes-Benz has come up with a solution to help remind drivers to keep their hands on the wheel at all times.

As the summer arrives, many car manufacturers prepare to release their cars for the next production year, and for Mercedes, the car we look forward to having this new technology is the 2021 E-class. The company’s E-class models are their executive sedans with top-of-the-line luxury and features. Being one of the car’s more expensive, higher-end cars, it is no surprise that this is what they chose to introduce the newer touch-sensitive technology.

A touch-sensitive steering wheel

The E-class is also the manufacturer’s best selling models, so Mercedes-Benz should expect quick feedback from customers as to how they like the new steering-wheel sensitivity. Like most safety features, such as the ding that sounds when you aren’t wearing your seatbelt, we expect that many owners will find the feature to be annoying until they get used to it.

The technology behind the new wheel isn’t all that complicated. There are two-zones on the steering wheel that can detect touch. Between all of the trim levels of the E-class, there are three separate steering wheel options, each option with the touch-sensitivity.

This technology has adapted from the already in use system that requires users to move the steering wheel when in self-steering mode, a feature Mercedes-Benz installed to ensure drivers are still paying attention to the car and its surroundings.

If drivers are to move their hands on the car, there isn’t a dramatic response that owners should be concerned about. The car will not come to a spontaneous stop, and the engine will not shut off. The function of the car that is dependent on the driver having both hands on the steering wheel within the designated area is the assisted steering.

Next year’s E-class cars will have many more safety options that enhance the driving experience as well. This will include active assistance with steering, braking, blind-spot detection, as well as numerous other options and features.