The driver must react fast to the threat of an accident, in order to avert the danger. The Citaro provides assistance with its directionally stable suspension and smooth steering. This is achieved by the independent suspension on the front axle.

There is particular emphasis on driver safety in the Citaro Ü. The UNECE-R 29 Directive applicable to trucks, which has defined the survival space for the driver in a head-on collision in a truck since 1975, has been voluntarily adopted as the standard for the new Citaro Ü. Compliance with UNECE-R 29 is checked by means of a pendulum impact test.

Protection in the event of a head-on collision which is based on the UNECE-R 29 standard and unparalleled amongst urban regular-service buses, comes together with the even stiffer structure of the frame to increase passive safety.

The new driver protection door can protect the driver from unexpected attacks. Depending on the intended deployment of the vehicle and the degree of protection desired, there are four modular constructions available.

If a temperature of approximately 160 °C is exceeded, the driver sees an alarm in the driver's display as well as the message "Engine compartment fire". Additionally, an acoustic warning tone is emitted and the extinguishing process initiated automatically.

In the case of a fire, the pressurised detection line (Firetrace) breaks and sprays an extinguishing mixture made of water, engine coolant and a special additive via a series of nozzles around the entire engine compartment. The water mist evaporates as a result of the high temperatures and displaces the oxygen. The engine compartment is thus cooled rapidly, the fire extinguished immediately and re-ignition of the fire prevented.