
The rate of vehicle deceleration or accelera-tion and the direction of the force are essen-tially determined by:
Rthe distribution of forces during the collision
Rthe collision angle
Rthe deformation characteristics of the vehi-cle
Rthe characteristics of the object with whichthe vehicle has collided
Factors which can only be seen and measuredafter a collision has occurred do not play adecisive role in the deployment of an air bag.Nor do they provide an indication of air bagdeployment.
The vehicle can be deformed considerably,without an air bag being deployed. This is thecase if only parts which are relatively easilydeformed are affected and the rate of deceler-ation is not high. Conversely, air bags may bedeployed even though the vehicle suffers onlyminor deformation. This is the case if, forexample, very rigid vehicle parts such as longi-tudinal body members are hit, and sufficientdeceleration occurs as a result.
If the restraint system control unit detects aside impact or if the vehicle rolls over, theapplicable components of the restraint systemare deployed independently of each otherdepending on the apparent type of accident.
RSide impact air bags on the side where theimpact takes place, independently of theEmergency Tensioning Device and the useof the seat belt on the driver's seat andouter seats in the second row
The side impact air bag on the frontpassenger side deploys under the followingconditions:
-the OCS system detects that the frontpassenger seat is occupied or
-the seat belt buckle tongue is engaged inthe belt buckle of the front passengerseat
RWindow curtain air bag on the side ofimpact, independently of the use of the seatbelt and independently of whether the front-passenger seat is occupied
REmergency Tensioning Devices, if the sys-tem determines that deployment can offeradditional protection in this situation
RWindow curtain air bags on the driver's andfront-passenger side in certain situationswhen the vehicle rolls over, if the system
determines that deployment can offer addi-tional protection to that provided by theseat belt
iNot all air bags are deployed in an acci-dent. The different air bag systems workindependently of each other.
How the air bag system works is determinedby the severity of the accident detected,especially the vehicle deceleration or accel-eration and the apparent type of accident:
RHead-on collision
RSide impact
RRollover
Automatic measures after an acci-
dent
Immediately after an accident, the followingmeasures are implemented, depending on thetype and severity of the impact:
Rthe hazard warning lamps are switched on
Rthe emergency lighting is activated
Rthe vehicle doors are unlocked
Rthe front side windows are lowered
Rthe engine is switched off and the fuel sup-ply is cut off
Rvehicles with Mercedes me connect: auto-matic emergency call
Children in the vehicle
Important safety notes
Accident statistics show that children securedin the rear seats are safer than childrensecured in the front-passenger seat. For thisreason, Mercedes-Benz strongly advises thatyou install a child restraint system on a rearseat. Children are generally better protectedthere.
If a child younger than twelve years old andunder 5 ft (1.50 m) in height is traveling in thevehicle:
Ralways secure the child in a child restraintsystem suitable for Mercedes-Benz vehicles.The child restraint system must be appropri-ate to the age, weight and size of the child.
Rbe sure to observe the instructions andsafety notes in this section in addition to the
Children in the vehicle53
Safety
Z

All child restraint systems must meet the fol-lowing standards:
RU.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards213 and 225
RCanadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards213 and 210.2
Confirmation that the child restraint systemcorresponds to the standards can be found onan instruction label on the child restraint sys-tem. This confirmation can also be found inthe installation instructions that are includedwith the child restraint system.
Observe the warning labels in the vehicle inte-rior and on the child restraint system.
LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child seat
securing system
GWARNING
For LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child restraint sys-
tems in which the child is secured using the
safety belt integrated in the child restraint
system, the maximum permissible weight of
the child and child restraint system together
is 73 lbs (33 kg).
If the child and the child restraint system
together weigh more than 73 lbs (33 kg), the
LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child restraint system
with integrated safety belt no longer offers
sufficient protection. The LATCH-type (ISO-
FIX) child seat securing system may be over-
loaded, and the child may not be restrained
in an accident, for example. This poses an
increased risk of injury or even fatal injury.
If the child and the child restraint system
together weigh more than 73 lbs (33 kg),
use only a LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child
restraint system in which the child is also
secured with the vehicle seat belt. Also
secure the child restraint system with the
Top Tether belt, if available.
Regularly check that the permissible grossweight of the child together with the childrestraint system is still maintained.
Always comply with the manufacturer's instal-lation and operating instructions for the childrestraint system used.
Before every trip, make sure that the LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child restraint system is engagedcorrectly in both LATCH-type (ISOFIX) securingrings
!When installing the child restraint system,make sure that the seat belt for the middleseat does not get trapped. The seat beltcould otherwise be damaged.
XInstall the LATCH-type (ISOFIX) childrestraint system on both LATCH-type (ISO-FIX) securing rings C.
LATCH-type (ISOFIX) is a standardized secur-ing system for specially designed childrestraint systems on the rear seats. LATCH-type (ISOFIX) securing rings for two LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child restraint systems are instal-led on the left and right of the rear seats.
Non-LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child seats may alsobe used and can be installed using the vehi-cle's seat belt system. Install the child seataccording to the manufacturer's instructions.
Top Tether
Introduction
Top Tether provides an additional connectionbetween the child restraint system securedwith a LATCH-type (ISOFIX) system and thevehicle. This helps reduce the risk of injuryeven further. If the child restraint system isequipped with a Top Tether belt, this shouldalways be used.
Important safety notes
GWARNING
If the rear seat backrests are not locked,
they could fold forwards in the event of an
56Children in the vehicle
Safety