2008 Mercedes S-Class Owner's Manual - Page 56

Safety and Security Occupant safety Emergency tensioning device (ETD), seat belt force limiter The seat belts for the front and rear outer seats are equipped with emergency tensioning devices and seat belt force limiters. The ETD is designed to activate in the following cases: in frontal or rear-end impacts exceeding the system deployment threshold in certain vehicle rollovers if the restraint systems are operational and functioning correctly, see = indicator lamp ( page 607) limiters, when activated, are employed to help reduce the peak force exerted by the seat belts on occupants during a crash. Warning! Active head restraints The active head restraints are intended to offer the driver and front passenger increased protection from whiplash type injuries. In the event of a rear-end collision, the active head restraints on the driver's and front passenger's seats are designed to move forward in the direction of travel, providing the head with increased support earlier on in the collision sequence. The active head restraints move forward whether the seat is occupied or not. Warning! 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 any authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. PRE-SAFE® has electrically operated reversible pre-tensioners that do not require replacement after activation. G i The ETDs for the front seats will only activate if the front seat belt is fastened (latch plate properly inserted into buckle). The ETDs for the rear outer seats will activate with or without the respective seat belt fastened. Automatic comfort-fit feature seat belt An automatic comfort-fit feature for the front seats and for the rear outer seats* (only for vehicles with rear power seat*) reduces the retracting force of the seat belts when they are in normal use. In an impact, emergency tensioning devices remove slack from the seat belts in such a way that the seat belts fit more snugly against the body. Seat belt force Do not attach any objects (e.g. hangers) to the head restraint posts. Otherwise, the active head restraints may not function properly or offer the degree of protection they were designed for in the event of an accident. 55