Occupant safety
Notes on occupant safety
Seat belts, together with belt tensioners, belt
force limiters and airbags, are complemen-
tary, coordinated restraint systems. They
reduce the risk of injury in specific, pre-
defined types of accident situations and
thereby increase occupant safety. However,
seat belts and airbags generally do not pro-
tect against objects penetrating the vehicle
from the outside.
To ensure that the restraint systems can
deliver their full potential protection, make
sure that:
R the seat and head restraint are adjusted
properly (Y page 76).
R the seat belt has been fastened properly
(Y page 89).
R the airbags can inflate properly if they are
deployed (Y page 39).
R the steering wheel is adjusted properly
(Y page 84).
R the restraint systems have not been modi-
fied.
i An airbag increases the protection of
vehicle occupants wearing a seat belt.
However, airbags are only an additional
restraint system which complements, but
does not replace, the seat belt. All vehicle
occupants must wear their seat belt cor-
rectly at all times, even if the vehicle is
equipped with airbags. This is because – on
the one hand – airbags are not deployed in
all types of accident, as in some situations
airbag deployment would not increase the
protection afforded to vehicle occupants,
provided they are wearing their seat belt
correctly. On the other hand, airbag deploy-
ment only provides increased protection if
the seat belt is worn correctly because: R
the seat belt helps to keep the vehicle
occupant in the best position in relation
to the airbag.
R for example, in a head-on collision, the
seat belt can more adequately prevent
the occupant from being propelled
towards the point of the impact, and is
thus better suited to prevent injury.
Therefore, in accident situations where an
airbag is deployed, it only provides protec-
tion in addition to the seat belt if the seat
belt is being worn correctly. G
Risk of accident and injury
Always have maintenance work carried out at
a qualified specialist workshop which has the
necessary specialist knowledge and tools to
carry out the work required.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you use a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre for this pur-
pose.
In particular, work relevant to safety or on
safety-related systems must be carried out at
a qualified specialist workshop. If this work is
not carried out correctly, the operating safety
of your vehicle may be affected. There is a risk
of an accident and injury. G
Risk of injury
The restraint system may not work as inten-
ded if the following components have been
modified or work on these components has
not been performed correctly:
R restraint system, consisting of the seat
belts and anchorages, belt tensioners, belt
force limiters, airbags
R wiring
R networked electronic systems
Airbags or belt tensioners could then fail, e.g.
in the event of an accident in which the decel-
eration force would normally be high enough
to trigger the systems, or they could be trig-
gered unintentionally. Never carry out any
modifications on the restraint systems. 36
Occupant safetySafety
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Retrofitting two-way radios and
mobile phones (RF transmitters)
Use the Technical Specification
ISO/TS 21609 46
implementation regulation
when retrofitting RF (radio frequency) trans-
mitters.
If your vehicle has fittings for two-way radio
equipment (e.g. taxis, hire cars or official vehi-
cles), use the power supply or aerial connec-
tions intended for use with the basic wiring.
Be sure to observe the manufacturer's addi-
tional instructions when installing the fittings.
! Damage resulting from installation work
that has not been carried out correctly is
not covered by the Mercedes-Benz implied
warranty.
To ensure correct installation, Mercedes-
Benz recommends having this work done
at a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre or at a
qualified specialist workshop.
Transmission output Transmission output at the aerial base must
not exceed the maximum values below. Waveband Maximum trans-
mission output
(PEAK)
Short wave
(f < 54 MHz) 100 W
4 m waveband 30 W
2 m waveband 50 W
Trunked radio/Tetra 35 W
70 cm waveband 35 W
GSM 900/AMPS 10 W
GSM 1800 10 W
UMTS 10 W Aerial positions
The following aerial positions may be used if
RF transmitters have been properly installed:
Aerial positions, Saloon
:
Front roof area (vehicles with sliding/tilt-
ing sunroof*: observe the roof's sweep)
(vehicles with panorama sliding roof*: this
area is not authorised for use)
; Rear roof area (vehicles with panorama
sliding sunroof*: this area is not author-
ised for use)
= Rear mudguard (recommended installa-
tion position: on the side which faces the
centre of the road)
? Boot lid
46 ISO/TS 21609 – Technical Specification for Road Vehicles -- (EMC) guidelines for installation of aftermarket
radio frequency transmitting equipment. Vehicle electronics
331Technical data
* optional
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