Mercedes-Benz ML320. Manual — part 60

67

Safety and Security

Occupant safety

Emergency tensioning device, seat belt
force limiter

The seat belts for the front seats are
equipped with emergency tensioning de-
vices and belt force limiters. The outboard
passenger seats belts (except in the third
row seats*) are equipped with emergency
tensioning devices.

The ETD is designed to activate only when
the seat belt is fastened and in the follow-
ing cases:

앫

in frontal or rear-end impacts exceed-
ing a preset severity level

앫

if the restraint systems are operational
and functioning correctly, see
1 indicator lamp (

컄

page 58)

In an impact, emergency tensioning devic-
es 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 oc-
cupants during a crash.

Children in the vehicle

If an infant or child is traveling with you in
the vehicle:

앫

Secure the child using an infant or child
restraint appropriate to the age and
size of the child and recommended for
use by Mercedes-Benz.

앫

Ensure that the infant or child is prop-
erly secured by a belt at all times while
the vehicle is in motion.

Infant and child restraint seats and infor-
mation on choosing an appropriate re-
straint system can be obtained from any
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.

Warning!

G

An emergency tensioning device (ETD) that
was activated must be replaced.

When disposing of the emergency tension-
ing device, our safety instructions must be
followed. These are available at your autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.

!

Do not place objects heavier than
20 lbs (9 kg) on the front passenger
seat. This could cause the front or side
impact airbag on the front passenger
side to deploy in a crash which exceeds
the system’s deployment threshold.

68

Safety and Security

Occupant safety

Infant and child restraint systems

Use only a BabySmart

TM1

compatible child

restraint for the front passenger seat in
this vehicle.

We recommend that all infants and
children be properly restrained at all times
while the vehicle is in motion. All lap-shoul-
der belts except the driver’s seat belt have
special seat belt retractors for secure fas-
tening of child restraints.

To fasten a child restraint, follow child re-
straint instructions for mounting. Then pull
shoulder belt out completely and let it re-
tract. During the seat belt retraction a
ratcheting sound can be heard to indicate
that the special seat belt retractor is acti-
vated. The belt is now locked. Push down
on child restraint to take up any slack.

To deactivate, release seat belt buckle and
let seat belt retract completely. The seat
belt can again be used in the usual man-
ner.

1

BabySmart

TM

is a trademark of Siemens

Automotive Corp.

i

Information on child seats with mount-
ing fittings for tether anchorages
(

컄

page 71).

For information on child seat anchors –
LATCH type (

컄

page 72).

Warning!

G

Never release the seat belt buckle while the
vehicle is in motion, since the special seat
belt retractor will be deactivated.

!

The use of infant or child restraints is
required by law in all 50 states, the
District of Columbia, the U.S. territo-
ries and all Canadian provinces.

Infants and small children should be
seated in an appropriate infant or child
restraint system properly secured by a
lap-shoulder belt or, if so equipped, a
child restraint lower anchorage system
that complies with U.S. Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standards 213 and 225
and Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard 213 and 210.2. A statement
by the child restraint manufacturer of
compliance with this standard can be
found on the instruction label on the re-
straint and in the instruction manual
provided with the restraint.

When using any infant or child restraint
system, be sure to carefully read and
follow all manufacturer’s instructions
for installation and use.

Please read and observe warning labels
affixed to inside of vehicle and to infant
or child restraints.

69

Safety and Security

Occupant safety

Warning!

G

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 BabySmart

TM

System installed in the ve-

hicle to deactivate the passenger front air-
bag when it is properly installed. Otherwise
they will be struck by the airbag when it in-
flates in a crash. If this happens, serious or
fatal injury can result.

According to accident statistics, children
are safer when properly restrained in the
rear seating positions than in the front seat-
ing positions. Infants and small children
must ride in back seats and be seated in an
appropriate infant or child restraint system,
which is properly secured with the vehicle’s
seat belt and top tether strap, or secured via
lower anchors and top tether strap, fully in
accordance with the child seat manufactur-
er’s instructions.

Infants and small children should never
share a seat belt with another occupant.
During an accident, they could be crushed
between the occupant and seat belt.

A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is
significantly increased if the child restraints
are not properly secured in the vehicle and
the child is not properly secured in the child
restraint.

Warning!

G

Children too big for child restraint systems
must ride in back seats using regular seat
belts. Position shoulder belt across chest
and shoulder, not face or neck. A booster
seat may be necessary to achieve proper
belt positioning for children from 41 lbs until
they reach a height where a lap/shoulder
belt fits properly without a booster.

When the child restraint is not in use, re-
move it from the vehicle or secure it with the
seat belt to prevent the child restraint from
becoming a projectile in the event of an ac-
cident.

Do not leave children unattended in the ve-
hicle, even if the children are secured in a
child restraint system. Unsupervised chil-
dren in a child restraint system may use ve-
hicle equipment and may cause an accident
and/or serious personal injury.

70

Safety and Security

Occupant safety

BabySmart

TM

airbag deactivation

system

Special BabySmart

TM1

compatible child

seats, designed for use with the
Mercedes-Benz system and available at
any authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center, are required for use with the
BabySmart

TM

airbag deactivation system.

With the special seat properly installed,
the passenger front airbag will not deploy.

The

7 indicator lamp located in the in-

strument cluster will be illuminated, ex-
cept with the key removed or in steering
lock position 0 (

컄

page 33).

Self-test BabySmart

TM

without special

child seat installed

After turning the key in the steering lock to
position 1 or 2, the

7 indicator lamp lo-

cated in the instrument cluster comes on
for approximately six seconds, extin-
guishes, then flashes once.

If the indicator lamp should not come on or
is continuously lit, the system is not func-
tioning. You must see an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center before
seating any child on the front passenger
seat.

More information can be found in the
“Practical hints” section (

컄

page 243).

1

BabySmart

TM

is a trademark of Siemens

Automotive Corp.

i

The system does not deactivate the
door mounted side impact airbag, the
window curtain airbags and the emer-
gency tensioning device.

Warning!

G

The BabySmart

TM

airbag deactivation sys-

tem will ONLY work with a special child seat
designed to operate with it. It will not work
with child seats which are not BabySmart

TM

compatible.

Never place anything between seat cushion
and child seat (e.g. pillow), since it reduces
the effectiveness of the deactivation sys-
tem. The bottom of the child seat must
make full contact with the passenger seat
cushion. An incorrectly mounted child seat
could cause injuries to the child in case of an
accident, instead of protecting the child.

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for
installation of special child seats.

When using a BabySmart

TM

compatible

child seat on the front passenger seat, the
passenger front airbag will not deploy only if
the

7 indicator lamp remains illumi-

nated.