2012 SMART FORTWO COUPE driving

your vehicle will be determined by our
authorized smart center technician or the
tow service provider on a case-by-case
basis and may be a factor in our ability to
respond.
Additional charges may be applicable for
a
breakdown location determined not to be
a reasonably accessible roadside location
as determined by our authorized
technician and tow service provider.
For additional information refer to the
smart Roadside Assistance Program
brochure (USA) or the Warranty Booklet
(Canada) in your vehicle literature
portfolio. Change of address or ownership
In the USA: If you change your address, be
sure to send in the “Information Change
Card” found in the Warranty Information
Booklet.
In Canada: If you change your address, be
sure to send in the “Change of Address
Notice” found in the Warranty Booklet, or
simply call the Customer Service at
1-800-387-0100.
Maintaining your current address
information with smart will enable us to
contact you should important new
information about the vehicle, such as
recalls, become available.
If you sell your smart, please leave all
literature with the vehicle to make it
available to the next operator.
In

the USA: If you bought this vehicle used,
be sure to send in the “Information Change
Card” found in the Warranty Information
Booklet.
In Canada: If you bought this vehicle used,
be sure to send in the “Notice of Pre‑Owned
Vehicle Purchase” found in the Warranty
Booklet, or call the Customer Service at
1-800-387-0100. Operating your vehicle outside the USA
or Canada
If you plan to operate your vehicle in
foreign countries, please be aware that:
R Service facilities or replacement parts
may not be readily available.
R Unleaded gasoline for vehicles with
catalytic converters may not be
available; the use of leaded fuels will
damage the catalysts.
R Gasoline may have a considerably lower
octane rating, and improper fuel can
cause engine damage. Operating safety
G
WARNING
Work improperly carried out on electronic
components and associated software could
cause them to cease functioning. Because
the vehicle’s electronic components are
interconnected, any modifications made
may produce an undesired effect on other
systems. Electronic malfunctions could
seriously impair the operating safety of
your vehicle.
See an authorized smart center for repairs
or modifications to electronic
components.
Improper work or modifications on other
vehicle systems could also have a negative
impact on the operating safety of the
vehicle. G
WARNING
Some safety systems only function while the
engine is running. You should therefore
never turn off the engine while driving. G
WARNING
Heavy blows against the vehicle underbody
or tires/wheels, for example when running
over an obstacle, road debris or a pothole, >> Introduction.
15 Z

>> Safety.Occupant safety ................................
30
Panic alarm ..................................... 45
Driving safety systems .......................46
Anti-theft systems ............................ 48

Occupant safety
Introduction
The smart vehicle is equipped with seat
belts
and dual stage air bags to protect you
in a crash. However, children can be killed
or seriously injured by an inflating air
bag. Indeed, there is a stronger risk of
serious death or bodily injury when an air
bag deploys on a child positioned in a
rear-facing child seat in the passenger
seat. Because this vehicle has only two
front seats and no backseat, it is limited
as are other two-seat vehicles, in the
extent to which it may restrain children
traveling in the passenger front seat. Many
states have laws against placing children
of certain ages in the front seat of a
vehicle that has both front and back seats.
Those laws make exceptions to permit
children to be restrained in the front seat
of two seat vehicles. Special instructions
and warnings are provided below about
when and if you may restrain a child in the
passenger seat of the smart vehicle. Under
certain circumstances, it is appropriate
for the passenger air bag not to operate
when a child is restrained in a car seat in
the passenger seat, and this vehicle is
equipped with technology to accomplish
this. Please pay very close attention to the
instructions and warnings below,
particularly as they relate to children.
In this section you will learn the most
important facts about the restraint system
components of the vehicle.
The restraint systems are:
R Seat belts ( Y page 31)
R Child restraints ( Y page 43) Additional protection potential is
provided by:
R
Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)
with
- Air bags (Y page 33)
- Air bag control unit (with crash
sensors)
- Emergency Tensioning Devices and
seat belt force limiters

(Y page 33)
R Air bag system components with
-Passenger front air bag off indicator
lamp (Y page 41)
- Passenger seat with Occupant
Classification System (OCS)
(Y page 39)
Although independent systems, their
protective functions work in conjunction
with each other.
i For information on infants and
children traveling with you in the
vehicle and restraint systems for infants
and children, see “Children in the
vehicle” ( Y page 42).
The SRS system conducts a self-test when
the ignition is switched on and in regular
intervals while the engine is running. This
facilitates detection of malfunctions. The
SRS indicator lamp 6 in the instrument
cluster comes on when the ignition is
switched on and goes out after
approximately four seconds.
The SRS components are in operational
readiness if the SRS indicator lamp 6
is not lit when the engine is running.
A malfunction in the system has been
detected if the SRS indicator lamp 6
R fails to go out after approximately 4
seconds after the ignition was switched
on
R does not come on at all
R comes on after the engine was started or
while driving 30
Occupant safety
>> Safety.

G
WARNING
Modifications to or work improperly
conducted on restraint systems (such as
seat belts and anchors, Emergency
Tensioning Devices, seat belt force
limiters or air bags) or their wiring, as
well as tampering with interconnected
electronic systems, can lead to the
restraint
systems no longer functioning as
intended. Air bags or Emergency
Tensioning Devices, for example, could
deploy inadvertently or fail to deploy in
accidents in which they otherwise should
deploy (although the deceleration
threshold for air bag deployment is
exceeded). Therefore, never modify the
restraint systems. Do not tamper with
electronic components or their software. G
WARNING
In the event that the SRS indicator lamp
6 comes on while driving or does not
come on at all, the SRS self-check has
detected

a malfunction. For your safety, we
strongly recommend that you immediately
but safely pull the vehicle off of the
roadway and stop driving. Contact an
authorized smart center immediately to
have the system checked; otherwise the SRS
may not deploy when needed in an accident,
which could result in serious or fatal
injury, or it might deploy unexpectedly and
unnecessarily which could also result in
injury.
In addition, improper repair work on the
SRS creates a risk of rendering the SRS
inoperative or causing unintended air bag
deployment. Work on the SRS must therefore
only be performed by qualified
technicians. Contact an authorized smart
center. If it is necessary to modify an air
bag system to accommodate a person with
disabilities, contact your local authorized
smart center. Seat belts
The use of seat belts and infant and child
restraint

systems is required by law in all
50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S.
territories and all Canadian provinces and
territories.
Even where this is not the case, all vehicle
occupants should have their seat belts
fastened whenever the vehicle is being
operated.
For more information, see “Fastening the
seat belts” ( Y page 62).
i For information on infants and
children traveling with you in the
vehicle and restraint systems for infants
and children, see “Children in the
vehicle” ( Y page 42). G
WARNING
Always fasten your seat belt before driving.
Always
make sure all of your passengers are
properly restrained.
Failure to wear and properly fasten and
position your seat belt greatly increases
your risk of injuries and their likely
severity in an accident. You and your
passenger should always wear seat belts.
If you are ever in an accident, your injuries
can be considerably more severe without
your seat belt properly buckled.
Without your seat belt buckled, you are
much more likely to hit the interior of the
vehicle or be ejected from it. You can be
seriously injured or killed.
In the same crash, the possibility of injury
or death is lessened if you are properly
wearing your seat belt. Air bags can only
protect you if you are properly wearing
your seat belt. G
WARNING
Never ride in a moving vehicle with the seat
backrest in an excessively reclined
position as this can be dangerous. You
could slide under the seat belt in a Occupant safety
31
>> Safety.
Z

R
If you install a rear-facing child
restraint on the passenger seat, make
sure the 4 0 indicator lamp
is illuminated, indicating that the
passenger front air bag is deactivated.
Should the 4 0 indicator
lamp not illuminate or go out while the
restraint is installed, please check
installation.
Periodically check the 4 0
indicator lamp while driving to make
sure the 4 0 indicator lamp
is illuminated.
If the 4 0 indicator lamp
goes
out or remains out, do not transport
a child on the passenger seat until the
system has been repaired.
A child in a rear-facing child restraint
on the passenger seat may be seriously
injured or even killed if the passenger
front air bag inflates.
R If you place a child in a forward-facing
child restraint on the passenger seat,
move the seat as far back as possible, use
the proper child restraint recommended
for the age, size and weight of the child
by the seat manufacturer, and secure
child restraint with the vehicle’s seat
belt according to the child seat
manufacturer’s instructions. For
children larger than the typical
12‑month‑old child, the passenger front
air bag may or may not be activated.
i Deployment of the driver front air bag
does not mean that the passenger front
air bag also should have deployed.
The Occupant Classification System may
have determined
R that the seat was empty or occupied by the
weight up to or less than that of a typical
12‑month‑old child seated in a standard
child restraint — both instances where
the system suppresses deployment of the
passenger front air bag even though the
impact met the criteria and was of sufficient severity to deploy the driver
front air bag
R that the seat was occupied by a small
individual (such as a young teenager or
a small adult) or a child weighing more
than
the weight of a typical 12‑month‑old
child in a standard child restraint —
instances where the system may suppress
deployment of the passenger front air
bag even though the impact met the
criteria and was of sufficient severity
to deploy the driver front air bag
Passenger front air bag off indicator
lamp The indicator lamp is located on the
overhead control panel.
Passenger front air bag off indicator
lamp : illuminates when the passenger
front air bag is deactivated.
G
WARNING
When the SRS indicator lamp 6 and the
4 0 indicator lamp are lit at
the

same time, there is a malfunction in the
Occupant Classification System.
In order to ensure proper operation of the
air bag system and OCS:
R Have the system checked as soon as
possible by qualified technicians.
Contact an authorized smart center.
R Sit properly belted in a position that is
as upright as possible with your back
against the seat backrest. Occupant safety
41
>> Safety.
Z

important information when circumstances
require you to place a child in the
passenger seat:
R
Your vehicle is equipped with air bag
technology designed to turn off the
passenger front air bag in your vehicle
when
the Occupant Classification System
senses the weight of a typical
12‑month‑old child or less along with the
weight of an appropriate child restraint
on the passenger seat.
R A child in a rear-facing child restraint
on the passenger seat may be seriously
injured or even killed if the passenger
front air bag inflates in a collision.
R If you install a rear-facing child
restraint on the passenger seat, make
sure the 4 0 indicator lamp
is illuminated, indicating that the
passenger front air bag is deactivated.
Should the 4 0 indicator
lamp not illuminate or go out while the
restraint is installed, please check
installation. Periodically check the
4 0 indicator lamp while
driving to make sure the
4 0 indicator lamp is
illuminated. If the 4 0
indicator lamp goes out or remains out,
do not transport a child on the passenger
seat until the system has been repaired.
A child in a rear-facing child restraint
on the passenger seat may be seriously
injured or even killed if the passenger
front air bag inflates.
R If you place a child in a forward-facing
child restraint on the passenger seat,
move the seat as far back as possible, use
a proper child restraint recommended
for the age, size and weight of the child,
and secure child restraint with the
vehicle’s seat belt according to the child
seat manufacturer’s instructions. For
children larger than the typical
12‑month‑old child, the passenger front
air bag may or may not be activated. G
WARNING
Infants and small children should never
share a seat belt with another occupant.
During an accident, they could be crushed
between the occupant and seat belt.
A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries
is significantly increased if the child
restraints are not properly secured in the
vehicle and/or the child is not properly
secured in the child restraint.
Children too big for a toddler restraint
must

ride in a seat using regular seat belt.
Position shoulder belt across chest and
shoulder, not face or neck. A booster seat
may be necessary to achieve proper seat
belt positioning for children over 41 lbs
until they reach a height where a lap-
shoulder belt fits properly without a
booster.
When the child restraint is not in use,
remove it from the vehicle or secure it with
the seat belt to prevent the child restraint
from becoming a projectile in the event of
an accident.
Do not leave children unattended in the
vehicle, even if the children are secured in
a child restraint system. Unsupervised
children in a child restraint system may
use vehicle equipment and may cause an
accident and/or serious personal injury.
If you are using a rear-facing child
restraint system on the passenger seat, you
must verify that the passenger front air bag
is deactivated. When the passenger front
air bag is deactivated, the
4 0 indicator lamp is
illuminated (Y page 41).
Top tether
Top tether permits an additional
connection between a child restraint
system and the passenger seat. Proper
usage of the top tether, in accordance with
instructions provided by the child
restraint manufacturer, can further reduce
the risk of injuries. 44
Occupant safety
>> Safety.

The product label with FCC ID and IC
certification
number can be found in the
battery case.
i Canada only:
This device complies with RSS‑210 of
Industry Canada. Operation is subject to
the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause
interference, and
2. this device must accept any
interference received, including
interference that may cause undesired
operation of the device.
Any unauthorized modification to this
device could void the user’s authority to
operate the equipment.
The product label with FCC ID and IC
certification number can be found in the
battery case. Driving safety systems
Introduction
G
WARNING
The following factors increase the risk of
accidents:
R Excessive speed, especially in turns
R Wet and slippery road surfaces
R Following another vehicle too closely
The driving safety systems described in
this section cannot reduce these risks or
prevent the natural laws of physics from
acting on the vehicle.
Always adapt your driving style to the
prevailing road and weather and traffic
conditions and keep a safe distance to
other road users and objects on the street.
i In winter operation, the maximum
effectiveness of the ABS, the hydraulic
brake assistant, and the ESP ®
is only
achieved with winter tires ( Y page 142)
or snow chains* as required. Antilock Brake System (ABS)
G
WARNING
Do not pump the brake pedal. Use firm,
steady brake pedal pressure instead.
Pumping the brake pedal defeats the
purpose of the ABS and significantly
reduces braking effectiveness.
The Antilock Brake System (ABS) regulates
the

brake pressure so that the wheels do not
lock during braking. This allows you to
maintain the ability to steer your vehicle.
On slippery road surfaces, the ABS will
respond even to light brake pressure.
The ABS indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster (Y page 22) comes on when you
switch on the ignition. It goes out when the
engine is running.
Braking At the instant one of the wheels is about to
lock up, a slight pulsation can be felt in
the

brake pedal, indicating that the ABS is
regulating the brake pressure.
X Keep firm and steady pressure on the
brake pedal while experiencing the
pulsation.
Continuous, steady brake pedal pressure
yields
the advantages provided by the ABS,
namely braking power and the ability to
steer the vehicle.
A pulsating brake pedal can be an
indication of hazardous road conditions
and functions as a reminder to take extra
care while driving.
Emergency brake maneuver X
Keep continuous full pressure on the
brake pedal. G
WARNING
When the ABS is malfunctioning, the
hydraulic brake assistant and the ESP ®
are
also switched off. 46
Driving safety systems
>> Safety.
* optional

When the ABS is malfunctioning, the wheels
may lock during hard braking, reducing
steering capability and extending the
braking distance.
G
WARNING
The ABS cannot prevent the natural laws of
physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can
it increase braking or steering efficiency
beyond that afforded by the condition of the
vehicle brakes and tires or the traction
afforded. The ABS cannot prevent
accidents, including those resulting from
excessive speed in turns, following
another vehicle too closely, or
hydroplaning. Only a safe, attentive, and
skillful driver can prevent accidents. The
capabilities of an ABS equipped vehicle
must never be exploited in a reckless or
dangerous manner which could jeopardize
the user’s safety or the safety of others. Electronic Stability Program (ESP
®
)
Your vehicle is equipped with the
Electronic Stability Program (ESP®
). The
ESP ®
is operational as soon as the engine
is running and it monitors the vehicle’s
traction (force of adhesive friction
between

the tires and the road surface) and
handling.
The ESP ®
recognizes when a wheel is
spinning or if the vehicle starts to skid.
By applying brakes to the appropriate
wheel and by limiting the engine output,
the ESP ®
works to stabilize the vehicle. The
ESP ®
is especially useful while driving off
and on wet or slippery road surfaces. The
ESP ®
also stabilizes the vehicle during
braking and steering maneuvers.
The ESP ®
warning lamp ÷ in the
instrument cluster flashes when the ESP ®
is
engaged.
The ESP ®
warning lamp ÷ in the
instrument cluster comes on when you switch on the ignition. It goes out when the
engine is running.
Depending on the driving situation, the
ESP
®
R reduces the speed
R selectively brakes individual wheels
R equalizes

the speed of the driven wheels
R stabilizes the vehicle when braking
R assists you in evasive maneuvers on all
roads G
WARNING
If the ESP ®
warning lamp ÷ in the
instrument cluster flashes, proceed as
follows:
R While driving off, apply as little
throttle as possible.
R While

driving, ease up on the accelerator
pedal.
R Adapt your speed and driving style to the
prevailing road conditions.
Failure to observe these guidelines could
cause the vehicle to skid.
The ESP ®
cannot prevent accidents
resulting from excessive speed. G
WARNING
The ESP ®

cannot prevent the natural laws of
physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can
it increase the traction afforded. The
ESP ®
cannot prevent accidents, including
those resulting from excessive speed in
turns, or hydroplaning. Only a safe,
attentive, and skillful driver can prevent
accidents. The capabilities of an ESP ®
equipped vehicle must never be exploited
in a reckless or dangerous manner which
could jeopardize the user’s safety or the
safety of others.
! Because the ESP ®
operates
automatically, the engine must be turned
off (ignition switched off) when the
parking brake is being tested on a brake
test dynamometer. Active braking action Driving safety systems
47
>> Safety. Z