Neck-Pro Head Restraints Important Safety Notes - Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe Operator's Manual

Occupant safety
54
the vehicle. This process is pre-emptive in
nature. Deployment should take place in good
time at the start of the collision.
The rate of vehicle deceleration or acceleration
and the direction of the force are essentially
determined by:
the distribution of forces during the collision
R
the collision angle
R
the deformation characteristics of the vehicle
R
the characteristics of the object with which
R
the vehicle has collided
Factors which can only be seen and measured
after a collision has occurred do not play a deci-
sive role in the deployment of an air bag. Nor do
they provide an indication of air bag deploy-
ment.
The vehicle can be deformed considerably, with-
out an air bag being deployed. This is the case if
only parts which are relatively easily deformed
are affected and the rate of deceleration is not
high. Conversely, air bags may be deployed even
though the vehicle suffers only minor deforma-
tion. This is the case if, for example, very rigid
vehicle parts such as longitudinal body mem-
bers are hit, and sufficient deceleration occurs
as a result.
If the restraint system control unit detects a side
impact, the applicable components of the
restraint system are activated independently of
each other.
Side impact air bags and pelvis air bag on the
R
side of impact, independently of the Emer-
gency Tensioning Device and the use of the
seat belt on the driver's seat and in the rear
compartment seats
The side impact air bag on the front-
passenger side (front) deploys under the fol-
lowing conditions:
the OCS system detects that the front-
-
passenger seat is occupied or
the belt tongue is engaged in the belt
-
buckle of the front-passenger seat
Window curtain air bag on the side of impact,
R
independently of the use of the seat belt and
independently of whether the front-
passenger seat is occupied
Emergency Tensioning Devices, if the system
R
determines that deployment can offer addi-
tional protection in this situation
i
Not all air bags are deployed in an accident.
The different air bag systems work independ-
ently of each other.
How the air bag system works is determined
by the severity of the accident detected,
especially the vehicle deceleration or accel-
eration and the apparent type of accident:
Frontal collision
R
Side impact
R
NECK-PRO head restraints
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
The function of the head restraint may be
impaired if you:
attach objects such as coat hangers to the
R
head restraints, for example
use head restraint covers
R
If you do so, the head restraints cannot fulfill
their intended protective function in the event
of an accident. In addition, objects attached
to the head restraints could endanger other
vehicle occupants. There is an increased risk
of injury.
Do not attach any objects to the head
restraints and do not use head restraint cov-
ers.
Method of operation
NECK-PRO head restraints reduce the likelihood
of head and chest injuries. The NECK-PRO head
restraints on the driver's and front-passenger
seats are moved forwards and upwards in the
event of a rear-end collision of a certain severity.
This provides better head support.
If the NECK-PRO head restraints have been trig-
gered in an accident, you must reset the NECK-
PRO head restraints on the driver's and front-
passenger seat ( page 55). Otherwise, the
Y
additional protection will not be available in the
event of another rear-end collision. You can rec-
ognize when NECK-PRO head restraints have
been triggered by the fact that they have moved
forwards and can no longer be adjusted.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you have the
NECK-PRO head restraints checked for func-
tionality at a qualified specialist workshop after
a rear-end collision.