Mercedes-Benz wants to put an end to accidents involving its cars by 2050. Obviously, that sounds ambitious, even if it's a long way in the future. Still, the German automaker today announced plans to achieve just that, calling its mission "Vision Zero" and saying it aims to have zero traffic deaths by this century's halfway point. The company also hopes to reduce the number of people who are killed or seriously injured in car accidents by cutting the 2020 numbers in half by 2030.

So, how will Mercedes go about reducing and eventually ending accidents involving its cars? Well, Paul Dick, head of vehicle safety at the company, said in a press release that "highly automated and autonomous driving will be a decisive contributor." Of course, there are a lot more contributing factors than simply a vehicle's safety features. Acknowledging this and the importance of infrastructure, Mercedes says federal governments and world organizations as well as urban planners and local road commissions will all have to work together. Did we mention that this plan is ambitious?