2006 Mercedes R-Class Owner's Manual - Page 81

Safety and Security Occupant safety Emergency tensioning device (ETD), seat belt force limiter The seat belts for the front and rear seats are equipped with emergency tensioning devices and belt force limiters. The ETD is designed to activate in the following cases: in frontal or rear-end impacts exceeding a preset severity level in certain vehicle rollovers if the restraint systems are operational and functioning correctly, see 1 indicator lamp ( page 411) In an impact, emergency tensioning devices remove slack from the belts in such a way that the seat belts fit more snugly against the body. Belt force limiters reduce the force exerted by the seat belts on occupants during a crash. Warning! Belts should not be worn twisted. In a crash, you would not have the full width of the belt to distribute impact forces. The twisted belt against your body could cause injuries. Pregnant women should also use a lap-shoulder belt. The lap belt portion should be positioned as low as possible on the hips to avoid any possible pressure on the abdomen. Never place your feet on the instrument panel, dashboard or on the seat. Always keep both feet on the floor in front of the seat. When using a seat belt to secure infant or toddler restraints or children in booster seats, always follow the child seat manufacturer's instructions. G A pyrotechnic emergency tensioning device (ETD) that was activated must be replaced. When disposing of the pyrotechnic emergency tensioning device, our safety instructions must be followed. These are available at your authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center. PRE-SAFE®* has electrically operated reversible pre-tensioners that do not require replacement after activation. i The ETDs for the front seats will only activate if the respective front seat belt is fastened (latch plate properly inserted into buckle). The ETDs for the rear seats will activate with or without the respective seat belt fastened. 80