Driving Safety Systems; Abs - Mercedes-Benz S 450 4MATIC Operator's Manual

Driving safety systems

This section contains information about
Adaptive Brake Lights as well as the follow-
ing driving safety systems:
ABS (Antilock Brake System)
Adaptive Brake
BAS (Brake Assist System)
BAS Plus* (Brake Assist System Plus)
EBP (Electronic Brake Proportioning)
®
ESP (Electronic Stability Program)
4MATIC (Four Wheel Electronic
Traction System)
®
PRE-SAFE Brake* (Preventive Occu-
pant Safety Brake)
Warning!
The following factors increase the risk of ac-
cidents:
Excessive speed, especially in turns
Wet and slippery road surfaces
Following another vehicle too closely
The driving safety systems described in this
section cannot reduce these risks or pre-
vent the natural laws of physics from acting
on the vehicle.
Always adapt your driving style to the pre-
vailing road and weather conditions and
keep a safe distance to other road users and
objects on the street.
i
In winter operation, the maximum effective-
ness of the ABS, Adaptive Brake, BAS,
®
BAS Plus*, EBP, ESP and 4MATIC is only
achieved with winter tires ( page 610), or snow
chains as required.
Safety and Security
Driving safety systems

ABS

G
Warning!
Do not pump the brake pedal. Use firm,
steady brake pedal pressure instead. Pump-
ing the brake pedal defeats the purpose of
the ABS and significantly reduces braking
effectiveness.
The Antilock Brake System (ABS) regulates
the brake pressure so that the wheels do
not lock during braking. This allows you to
maintain the ability to steer your vehicle.
The ABS is functional above a speed of ap-
proximately 5 mph (8 km/h) independent
of road surface conditions.
On slippery road surfaces, the ABS will re-
spond even to light brake pressure.
The - indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster ( page 28) comes on when you
switch on the ignition ( page 370). It goes
out when the engine is running.
G
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