Mercedes is working on a collision avoidance air bag that will deploy underneath the vehicle. When sensors detect an imminent collision, the airbag will inflate and lift the vehicle off the ground by several inches. The increased friction caused by the airbags contact with the road will bring the vehicle to a much quicker stop than the tires can. It will also keep the vehicle level during an impact, minimizing the dangers associated with the vehicle’s running underneath the vehicle ahead, as happens when brakes are slammed on, causing a car to dip forward.