Driving Safety Systems - Mercedes-Benz GLK 300 4MATIC 2012 Owner's Manual

To activate/deactivate: press button ;.
X
If indicator lamp : is lit, operation of the
rear side windows is disabled. Operation is
only possible using the switches in the driv-
er's door. If indicator lamp : is off, oper-
ation is possible using the switches in the
rear compartment.

Driving safety systems

Driving safety systems overview
In this section, you will find information about
the following driving safety systems:
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
R
BAS (Brake Assist System)
R
Adaptive brake lamps
R
®
R ESP (Electronic Stability Program)
EBD (electronic brake force distribution)
R
Important safety notes
If you fail to adapt your driving style or if you
are inattentive, the driving safety systems can
neither reduce the risk of accident nor over-
ride the laws of physics. Driving safety sys-
tems are merely aids designed to assist driv-
ing. You are responsible for the distance to
the vehicle in front, for vehicle speed and for
braking in good time. Always adapt your driv-
ing style to suit the prevailing road and
weather conditions and maintain a safe dis-
tance from the vehicle in front. Drive care-
fully.
i
The driving safety systems described only
work as effectively as possible when there
is adequate contact between the tyres and
the road surface. Please pay special atten-
tion to the notes on tyres, recommended
minimum tyre tread depths, etc.
( page 350).
Y
In wintry driving conditions, always use
winter tyres (M+S tyres) and, if necessary,
snow chains. Only in this way will the driv-
Driving safety systems
ing safety systems described in this section
work as effectively as possible.
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
Important safety notes
i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion ( page 65).
Y
G
WARNING
If ABS is faulty, the wheels could lock when
braking. The steerability and braking charac-
teristics may be severely impaired. Addition-
ally, further driving safety systems are deac-
tivated. There is an increased danger of skid-
ding and accidents.
Drive on carefully. Have ABS checked imme-
diately at a qualified specialist workshop.
If ABS is malfunctioning, other systems,
including driving safety systems, will also
become inoperative. Observe the information
on the ABS warning lamp (
any display messages that may appear in the
instrument cluster (
Y
( page 252).
Y
ABS regulates brake pressure in such a way
that the wheels do not lock when you brake.
This allows you to continue steering the vehi-
cle when braking.
ABS works from a speed of about 8 km/h
upwards, regardless of road-surface condi-
tions. ABS works on slippery surfaces, even
when you only brake gently.
The yellow ! ABS warning lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up when the ignition
is switched on. It goes out when the engine is
running.
Brakes
If ABS intervenes: continue to depress the
X
brake pedal with force until the braking sit-
uation is over.
To make a full brake application:
X
depress the brake pedal with full force.
page 286) and
Y
page 247) or
Z
65