Autonomously guided vehicle train , wherein - the vehicle train contains a self-propelled first lead vehicle , a first following vehicle and a second following vehicle ; - the vehicle train contains a first coupling unit which is configured to couple the first following vehicle and the first lead vehicle to each other; - the vehicle train contains a second coupling unit which is configured to couple the second following vehicle and the first following vehicle to each other; - the first following vehicle contains a first drive system and a first control unit which is configured to automatically control the first drive system such that the first following vehicle follows the first lead vehicle when the first following vehicle and the first lead vehicle are coupled to each other; and - the second following vehicle contains a second drive system and a second control unit which is configured to automatically control the second drive system such that the second following vehicle follows the first following vehicle when the second following vehicle and the first following vehicle are coupled to each other - the first lead vehicle contains a safety system which is configured to detect the presence of an accident situation; - the safety system contains an impact protection element and a trigger unit which is configured to activate the impact protection element when the presence of the accident situation has been detected; and - the impact protection element is arranged at least in part between the first lead vehicle and the first following vehicle when the impact protection element has been activated. - the vehicle train contains a self-propelled first lead vehicle , a first following vehicle and a second following vehicle ; - the vehicle train contains a first coupling unit which is configured to couple the first following vehicle and the first lead vehicle to each other; - the vehicle train contains a second coupling unit which is configured to couple the second following vehicle and the first following vehicle to each other; - the first following vehicle contains a first drive system and a first control unit which is configured to automatically control the first drive system such that the first following vehicle follows the first lead vehicle when the first following vehicle and the first lead vehicle are coupled to each other; and - the second following vehicle contains a second drive system and a second control unit which is configured to automatically control the second drive system such that the second following vehicle follows the first following vehicle when the second following vehicle and the first following vehicle are coupled to each other - the first lead vehicle contains a safety system which is configured to detect the presence of an accident situation; - the safety system contains an impact protection element and a trigger unit which is configured to activate the impact protection element when the presence of the accident situation has been detected; and - the impact protection element is arranged at least in part between the first lead vehicle and the first following vehicle when the impact protection element has been activated. <EOS>