2001 Mercedes CL-Class Owner's Manual - Page 101

Instruments and controls Operation Driving Instrument cluster display 98 Practical hints Car care Technical data Index Restraint systems • Occupants, especially children, should never lean their heads in the area of the door or rear quarter interior trim panel where the side airbag inflates. This could result in serious injuries or death should the airbag be triggered. Always sit upright, properly use the seat belts and appropriate size infant or child restraint system. • Children 12 years old and under must never ride in the front seat, except in a Mercedes-Benz authorized BabySmart TM compatible child seat, which operates with the BabySmartTM system installed in the vehicle to deactivate the passenger side front airbag when it is properly installed. Otherwise they will be struck by the airbag when it inflates in a crash. If this happens, serious or fatal injury can result. Failure to follow these instructions can result in severe injuries to you or other occupants. Warning! Accident research shows that the safest place for children in an automobile is in the rear seat. Should you choose to place a child 12 years old or under in the front passenger seat of your vehicle, you must properly use a BabySmartTM child restraint which will turn off the passenger side airbag. BabySmartTM will not, however, turn off any side impact airbag. It should be noted that with respect to both front and rear side impact airbags there is a possibility for a side airbag related injury if occupants, especially children, are not properly seated or restrained when next to a side airbag which needs to deploy rapidly in a side impact in order to do its job.