the vehicleoccupant in the best positionin
relation to the airbag.
The seat belt systemcomprises:
R
Seatbelts
R
Emergency Tensioning Devices and seat belt
force limiters
If the seat belt is pulled quicklyorsharplyby
the seat belt guide, the inertia reellocks. The
belt strapcannot be extracted any further.
The Emergency Tensioning Device tightens the
seat belt in an accident, pulling the belt close
against the body.Howeveritdoesnot pull the
vehicleoccupant back in the direction of the
backrest.
The Emergency Tensioning Device does not
correct an incorrect seat positionorthe rout-
ing of an incorrectly fastened seat belt.
When triggered,aseatbeltforce limiter helps
to reduce the force exerted by the seat belt on
the vehicleoccupant.
The seat belt force limiters aresynchronized
with the front airbagswhich absorbpartof
the decelerationforce. Thiscan reduce the
force exerted on the vehicleoccupants during
an accident.
!
If the front-passengerseatisnot occupied,
do not engagethe seat belt tongue in the
buckle on the front-passengerseat. Other-
wise,inthe event of an accident the Emer-
gency Tensioning Device and the side
impact airbag,inadditiontoothersystems,
maybetriggered and have to be replaced.
Important safety notes
The useofseatbelts and child restraint sys-
tems is required by lawin:
R
all50states
R
the U.S. territories
R
the DistrictofColumbia
R
allCanadianprovinces
Even where thisisnot required by law, allvehi-
cle occupants shouldcorrectlyfastentheir
seat belts beforestartingthe journey.
G
WARNING
If the seat belt is not worn correctly, it can-
not perform its intendedprotective function.
An incorrectly fastened seat belt can also
cause injuries, for example, in the event of
an accident or when braking or changing
directionabruptly. This posesanincreased
riskofinjury or evenfatal injury.
Alwaysensurethatall vehicleoccupants
have their seat belts fastened correctlyand
aresitting properly.
The component parts of the restraint system
work in conjunctionwitheachother. They can
onlydeploytheir protective functionif, at all
times,all vehicleoccupants:
R
have fastened their seat belts correctly
(Y page 41)
R
have the seat and head restraint adjusted
properly (Y page 85)
G
WARNING
The seat belt does not offer the intended
level of protection if youhavenot moved the
backrest to an almostverticalposition.
When braking or in the event of an accident,
youcould slideunderneath the seat belt and
sustain abdomen or neck injuries, for exam-
ple. This posesanincreasedriskofinjury or
evenfatal injury.
Adjust the seat properly beforebeginning
your journey.Alwaysensurethatthe back-
restisinanalmostverticalpositionand that
the shouldersectionofyourseatbeltis
routed across the centerofyourshoulder.
G
WARNING
Persons less than5ft(1.50m)tallcannot
wear the seat belt correctlywithoutanaddi-
tional and suitablerestraint system. If the
seat belt is not worn correctly, it cannot per-
formits intendedprotective function. An
incorrectly fastened seat belt can also cause
injuries, for example, in the event of an acci-
dent or when braking or changing direction
abruptly. Thisposes an increasedriskof
injury or evenfatal injury.
For thisreason,alwayssecurepersons
under 5ft(1.50m)tallinsuitableadditional
restraint systems.
40
Occupant safety
Safety
