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 52)
R
BAS (Brake Assist System) (
Y
page 53)
R
Adaptive brake lights (
Y
page 53)
R
ESP
®
(Electronic Stability Program)
(
Y
page 53)
R
EBD (electronic brake force distribution)
(
Y
page 55)
R
ADAPTIVE BRAKE (
Y
page 56)
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 work as
effectively as possible only 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 235).
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 information
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 yellow
!
ABS warning lamp in the instru-
ment cluster lights up when the ignition is
switched on. It goes out when the engine is run-
ning.
ABS works from a speed of about 8 km/h,
regardless of road-surface conditions. ABS
works on slippery surfaces, even when you
brake only gently.
Important safety notes
i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (
Y
page 52).
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-
tivated. There is an increased danger of skid-
ding and accidents.
Drive on carefully. Have ABS checked imme-
diately at a qualified specialist workshop.
If ABS is malfunctioning, other systems, includ-
ing driving safety systems, will also become
inoperative. Observe the information on the ABS
warning lamp (
Y
page 158) and display mes-
52
Driving safety systems
Safet
y
