Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class Owner's Manual page 54

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Airbags are not activated in all types of acci-
dent. They are controlled by complex sensor
technology and evaluation logic. This is pre-emp-
tive in nature since the airbag must be activated
as the accident occurs and must be adapted to
provide the calculated, additional protection for
the vehicle occupants. Not all the airbags are
activated in an accident.
The various airbag systems operate independ-
ently. However, each system is dependent on
the type of accident (frontal/side/rear impact
and overturning) and severity of the accident
(mainly vehicle deceleration or acceleration)
predicted during the initial phase of the accident.
Vehicle deceleration or acceleration and
force direction are essentially determined
by:
the distribution of forces during the
collision
the collision angle
the deformation characteristics of the
vehicle
the characteristics of the other object
involved in the collision, e.g. the other
vehicle
Factors which can only be seen and meas-
ured after the collision has taken place do
not play a decisive role in the deployment
of an airbag, nor do they provide an indica-
tion of it.
The vehicle may be substantially deformed
without an airbag being triggered, e.g. if
only relatively easily-deformable vehicle
parts such as the bonnet or wings are
affected by the collision and the required
deceleration threshold is not reached. On
the other hand, airbags may be triggered
even though the vehicle only displays
minor deformation, if rigid vehicle parts,
for example, longitudinal members, are
affected by the impact, causing vehicle
deceleration to exceed the pre-determined
threshold.
Occupant safety
Belt tensioners, belt force limiters
The front seat belts are equipped with:
Belt tensioners
Belt force limiters
An automatic comfort-fit feature
The rear seat belts are equipped with:
Belt tensioners
Belt force limiters
!
Do not insert the belt tongue into the front-
passenger seat belt buckle if the front-passenger
seat is unoccupied. The belt tensioner could oth-
erwise be triggered in the event of an accident.
Belt tensioners tension the seat belts in an
accident, pulling them tight against the
body.
Safety
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