Examples of incorrect seated positionsRead and observe
on page 9 first.
Maximum seat belt protection is only achieved if seat belts are fastened cor-
rectly.
Incorrect seated positions considerably reduce the protective functions of the
seat belts and therefore increase the risk of injury due to an incorrect routing
of the seat belt.
The driver is fully responsible for himself and passengers, especially children.
Never allow a passenger to adopt an incorrect seated position when the car is
moving.
The following list contains instructions which, if not observed, may cause seri-
ous injuries or death. This list is not complete, however we would like you to
familiarise yourself with this subject.
Observe the following instructions while driving. Do not stand up.
Do not stand on the seats.
Do not kneel on the seats.
Do not tilt the seat backrest too far back.
Do not lean against the dash panel.
Do not lie on the rear seats.
Do not sit only on the front part of the seat.
Do not sit facing to the side.
Do not lean out of the window.
Do not put your feet out of the window.
Do not put your feet on the dash panel.
Do not put your feet on the seat cushion.
Do not allow anybody to travel in the footwell.
Do not drive without fastening your seat belt.
Do not delay in the luggage compartment.
Seat belts
Using seat belts
Introduction
Fig. 3
Driver wearing seat belt
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
The physical principle of a frontal collision
13
Fastening and unfastening seat belts
13
Seat belts that are fastened correctly offer good protection in the event of an
accident. They reduce the risk of an injury and increase the chance of survival
in the event of a major accident.
Correctly fastened seat belts hold occupants of the car in the correct seated
position » Fig. 3.
The seat belts reduce the kinetic energy (energy of motion) to a considerable
extent. They also prevent uncontrolled movements which, in turn, may well re-
sult in severe injuries.
Occupants of a vehicle who have correctly fastened their seat belts have the
major benefit of the fact that the kinetic energy is absorbed as effectively as
possible by the belts.
The structure of the front end of the vehicle and other passive safety meas-
ures, such as the airbag system, also contribute to the kinetic energy being re-
duced as effectively as possible. The energy produced is thus absorbed and
there is less risk of injury.
Particular safety aspects must be observed when transporting children in the
vehicle » page 19 , Transporting children safely .
11Seat belts
Driving off paved roadsRead and observe
on page 83 first.
Only drive on such roads and in such terrain, which match the vehicle parame-ters » page 143 , Technical data as well as your driving skills.
The driver is always responsible for deciding whether the vehicle can handle
travelling in the given terrain.
WARNINGDrive particularly aware and pro-actively outside paved roads.■Always adjust your driving to the current terrain and weather conditions.
Excessive speed or incorrect driving manoeuvres can cause damage to the
vehicle and lead to serious injuries.■
Objects trapped under the floor of the vehicle can damage the fuel lines,
the brake system, the seals and other parts of the chassis. Check the un-
derside of the vehicle and remove the trapped objects.
■
Combustible objects such as dry leaves or twigs caught under the base of
the vehicle could ignite on hot vehicle parts - risk of fire!
CAUTION
■ Pay attention to the ground clearance of the vehicle! When driving over ob-
jects which are larger than the ground clearance, the chassis and its compo-
nents can get damaged.■
Drive slowly in unknown terrain and watch out for unexpected obstacles,
such as potholes, rocks, stumps, etc.
■
Check up on confusing sections of unpaved roads before travelling on them
and consider whether such travelling is possible without risk.
Assist systems
Braking and stabilisation systems
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
84
Antilock Braking System (ABS)
85
Traction Control System (TC)
85
Electronic Differential Lock (EDL)
85
Hydraulic Brake Assist (HBA)
85
Hill Hold Control (HHC)
85
This chapter deals with the functions of the braking and stabilisation systems,
with the error indicator referred to in chapter » page 33, Warning lights .
The braking and stabilisation systems are automatically activated each time the ignition is switched on.
WARNING■ A lack of fuel can cause irregular engine running or cause the engine to
shut down. The brake assist systems would then fail to function – risk of
accident!■
The increased safety provided by the brake assist systems must not
tempt you to take safety risks – risk of accident!
■
Adjust the speed and driving style to the current visibility, weather, road
and traffic conditions.
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
Read and observe
on page 84 first.
The ESC improves vehicle stability in dynamic driving situations, such as whenthe vehicle starts to skid.
The ESC monitors whether the desired direction of the current vehicle motion
is occurring. In case of any deviation (e.g. oversteer), the ESC automatically
brakes individual wheels to maintain the desired direction.
During an intervention of the system, the warning light flashes in the instru-
ment cluster.
84Driving
