Pets in the vehicle
G
WARNING
If you leave animals unsupervised or unse-
cured in the vehicle, they may push a button
or a switch, for example.
They could:
R
activate vehicle equipment and become
trapped, for example
R
switch vehicle systems on or off, thus
endangering other road users
In the event of an accident, sudden braking or
abrupt changes of direction, unsecured ani-
mals could be flung around the vehicle, injur-
ing the vehicle occupants. There is a risk of an
accident and injury.
Never leave animals unattended in the vehi-
cle. Always secure animals correctly during a
journey, e.g. in an animal transport box.
Driving safety systems
Driving safety systems overview
In this section, you will find information about
the following driving safety systems:
R
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
(
Y
page 66)
R
BAS (Brake Assist System) (
Y
page 67)
R
BAS PLUS with Cross-Traffic Assist (Brake
Assist System PLUS with Cross-Traffic Assist)
(
Y
page 67)
R
COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS
(
Y
page 69)
R
Adaptive brake lights (
Y
page 71)
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ESP
®
(Electronic Stability Program)
(
Y
page 71)
R
EBD (electronic brake force distribution)
(
Y
page 75)
R
ADAPTIVE BRAKE (
Y
page 75)
R
PRE-SAFE
®
Brake (
Y
page 75)
R
STEER CONTROL (
Y
page 77)
Important safety notes
If you fail to adapt your driving style or if you are
inattentive, the driving safety systems can nei-
ther reduce the risk of an accident nor override
the laws of physics. Driving safety systems are
merely aids designed to assist driving. You are
responsible for maintaining the distance to the
vehicle in front, for vehicle speed, for braking in
good time, and for staying in lane. Always adapt
your driving style to suit the prevailing road and
weather conditions and maintain a safe distance
from the vehicle in front. Drive carefully.
The driving safety systems described only work
as effectively as possible when there is ade-
quate contact between the tyres and the road
surface. Pay particular attention to the informa-
tion regarding tyres, recommended minimum
tyre tread depths etc. in the "Wheels and tyres"
section (
Y
page 353).
In wintry driving conditions, always use winter
tyres (M+S tyres) and, if necessary, snow
chains. Only in this way will the driving safety
systems described in this section work as effec-
tively as possible.
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
General notes
ABS regulates brake pressure in such a way that
the wheels do not lock when you brake. This
allows you to continue steering the vehicle when
braking.
The
!
ABS warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up when the ignition is switched
on. It goes out when the engine is running.
ABS works from a speed of about 8 km/h,
regardless of road-surface conditions. ABS
works on slippery surfaces, even when you only
brake gently.
Important safety notes
i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (
Y
page 66).
G
WARNING
If ABS is faulty, the wheels could lock when
braking. The steerability and braking charac-
teristics may be severely impaired. Addition-
ally, further driving safety systems are deac-
66
Driving safety systems
Safety
