Head-Thorax; Knee Bags; Head-Thorax Air Bags - Mercedes-Benz 2009 SLK-Class Operator's Manual

if the system determines that air bag
R
deployment can offer additional protection
to that provided by the seat belt
depending on whether the seat belt is in
R
use
independently of the head-thorax air bags
R
The front air bags in this vehicle have been
designed to inflate in two stages. This allows
the air bags to have different rates of inflation
that are based on the vehicle deceleration
rate as assessed by the air bag control unit.
On the passenger side, the front air bag
deployment is additionally influenced by the
passenger's weight category as identified by
the Occupant Classification System (OCS)
( Y page 46).
The lighter the passenger side occupant, the
higher the vehicle deceleration rate required
for second stage inflation of the air bag.
The air bags will not deploy in impacts which
do not exceed the system's preset deploy-
ment thresholds. You will then be protected
by the fastened seat belts.
The front air bags will not deployed in the
event of a rollover unless the vehicle's rate of
longitudinal deceleration or acceleration
exceeds the preset deployment threshold for
the front air bags.
The passenger air bag will only be
2
deployed if:
the system, based on OCS weight sensor
R
readings, detects that the passenger seat
is occupied
the indicator lamp in the
R 75
center console is not lit ( Y page 48)
the impact exceeds a preset deployment
R
threshold

Knee bags

The driver side knee bag is located on the
4
driver side lower instrument panel. The pas-
senger side knee bag is located on the
3
passenger side below the glove box. They are
designed to operate together with the front
air bags in certain frontal impacts exceeding
a preset deployment threshold. The knee
bags operate best in conjunction with prop-
erly positioned and fastened seat belts.
Safety and security
Occupant safety

Head-thorax air bags

G Observe Safety notes, see
page 43.
Head-thorax air bag
1
When deployed, the head-thorax air bags are
designed to provide increased protection for
the head and thorax (but not for the arms) on
the side of the vehicle on which the impact
occurs.
The head-thorax air bags are deployed:
on the impacted side of the vehicle
R
in side impacts exceeding a preset deploy-
R
ment threshold
if the system determines that air bag
R
deployment can offer additional protection
to that provided by the seat belt
Z
45