Mercedes-Benz 260 E 124 1988 Owner's Manual page 43

The emergency tensioning retractors
are designed to activate only during
severe frontal impacts within the
shaded area shown. They tighten the
belts in such a way that they fit more
snugly against the body restricting as
much as possible its forward move­
ment.
In cases of less severe frontal im­
pacts, roll-overs, side or rear colli­
sions, or other accidents without se­
vere frontal forces, the emergency
tensioning retractors will not be acti­
vated. The driver and passengers will
then be protected by the fastened seat
belts and inertia reel in the usual
manner.
Warning!
• Each occupant should wear his
seat belt at all times. Together
with the "SRS" (driver air bag,
ETR's and driver-side knee bol­
ster), the seat belt offers the
best conditions for protection of
the body in case of severe fron­
tal impact. Never wear the
shoulder belt under your arm or
otherwise out of position. Posi­
tion the lap belt as low as pos­
sible around the hips (not the
waist).
• Children are safer when pro­
perly restrained in the rear
seating positions than in the
front seating positions.
• Infants and small children
should be seated in an infant or
child restraint system, which is
properly secured by a lap belt
or lap belt portion of a lap-
shoulder belt. Children could be
endangered in an accident if
their child restraints are not pro­
perly secured in the vehicle.
• Children too big for child re­
straint systems should ride in
rear seats using regular seat
belts. A shoulder belt can be
used, providing it does not
cross the face ore neck of a
child.
• Each seat belt should not be
used for more than one person
at a time.
• Belts should not be worn
twisted.
• Pregnant women should select
a seat with a lap-shoulder belt
whenever possible. The lap belt
should be positioned as low as
possible around the hips, to
avoid any possible pressure on
the abdomen.
For cleaning and care of the seat
belts, see page 90.
For seat belt and emergency ten­
sioning retractor safety rules, see
page 43.