Factors which can only be seen and measured
after the collision has occurred do not play a
decisive role in the deployment of an air bag, nor
do they provide an indication of air bag deploy-
ment.
The vehicle may be considerably deformed with-
out an air bag being deployed. This is the case if
only relatively easily deformable parts have
been hit and a high rate of deceleration has not
been reached. Conversely, an air bag may be
deployed even though the vehicle suffers only
minor deformation. This is the case if, for exam-
ple, very rigid vehicle parts such as the longitu-
dinal body members are hit in an accident and
the rate of deceleration is sufficient.
If the restraint system control unit detects a side
impact or that the vehicle is rolling over, the rel-
evant restraint system components are
deployed independently of one another depend-
ing on the anticipated type of accident.
R
Side impact air bag and pelvis air bag on the
side on which an impact occurs, independ-
ently of the Emergency Tensioning Device and
seat belt usage
The side impact air bag on the front-
passenger side deploys under the following
conditions:
-
the OCS system detects that the front-
passenger seat is occupied or
-
the belt tongue has engaged in the belt
buckle of the front-passenger seat.
R
Window curtain air bag on the side of the col-
lision, regardless of seat belt use and whether
front-passenger seat is occupied
R
Emergency Tensioning Devices, if the system
determines that they can offer additional pro-
tection for the vehicle occupants in this sit-
uation
R
Window curtain air bags on the driver's and
front-passenger sides in certain rollover sit-
uations if the system determines that they
can offer additional protection to that provi-
ded by the seat belt
i
Not all air bags are deployed in an accident.
The various air bag systems work independ-
ently of each other.
How the air bag system works is determined
by the severity of the accident detected,
especially the vehicle deceleration or accel-
eration, and the apparent type of accident:
R
frontal collision
R
side impact
R
rollover
Automatic measures after an acci-
dent
Immediately after an accident, the following
measures are implemented, depending on the
type and severity of the impact:
R
the hazard warning lamps are activated
R
the emergency lighting is activated
R
the vehicle doors are unlocked
R
the front side windows are lowered
R
the engine is switched off and the fuel supply
is cut off
Children in the vehicle
Important safety notes
Accident statistics show that children secured
in the rear seats are safer than children secured
in the front seats. For this reason, Mercedes-
Benz strongly advises that you install a child
restraint system on a rear seat. Children are
generally better protected there.
If a child younger than twelve years and under
5 ft (1.50 m) in height is traveling in the vehicle:
R
always secure this child in a restraint system
approved for Mercedes-Benz vehicles. The
child restraint system must be appropriate to
the age, weight and size of the child.
R
be sure to observe the instructions and safety
notes in this section in addition to the child
restraint system manufacturer's installation
instructions.
R
always observe the instructions and safety
notes on the "Occupant Classification System
(OCS)" (
Y
page 51).
Children in the vehicle
57
Safe
ty
Z
