Proper Use Of - Mercedes-Benz SLK Operator's Manual

Do not bleach or dye seat belts as this may
severely weaken them. In a crash they may
not be able to provide adequate protection.
Have all work carried out only by qualified
technicians. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Proper use of seat belts
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Warning!
USE SEAT BELTS PROPERLY
Seat belts can only protect when used
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properly. Never wear seat belts in any other
way than as described in this section, as
that could result in serious injuries in case
of an accident.
Each occupant should wear their seat belt
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at all times, because seat belts help reduce
the likelihood of and potential severity of
injuries in accidents, including rollovers.
The integrated restraint system includes
SRS (driver front air bag, knee bags,
passenger front air bag, head-thorax air
bags), Emergency Tensioning Devices
(ETDs) and seat belt force limiters.
The system is designed to enhance the
protection offered to properly belted
occupants in certain frontal (front air bags,
knee bags and ETDs) and side (head-thorax
air bags and ETDs) impacts which exceed
preset deployment thresholds.
Never wear the shoulder belt under your
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arm, against your neck or off your shoulder.
In a frontal crash, your body would move
too far forward. That would increase the
chance of head and neck injuries. The seat
belt would also apply too much force to the
ribs or abdomen, which could severely
injure internal organs such as your liver or
spleen.
Adjust the seat belt so that the shoulder
section is located as close as possible to
the middle of the shoulder. It should not
touch the neck. Never pass the shoulder
portion of the seat belt under your arm.
Occupant safety
Position the lap belt as low as possible on
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your hips and not across the abdomen. If
the lap belt is positioned across your
abdomen, it could cause serious injuries in
a crash.
Never wear seat belts over rigid or
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breakable objects in or on your clothing,
such as eyeglasses, pens, keys etc., as
these might cause injuries.
Make sure the seat belt is always fitted
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snugly. Take special care of this when
wearing loose clothing.
Never use a seat belt for more than one
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person at a time. Do not fasten a seat belt
around a person and another person or
other objects at the same time.
Seat belts should not be worn twisted. In a
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crash, you would not have the full width of
the seat belt to distribute impact forces.
The twisted seat belt against your body
could cause injuries.
Pregnant women should also always use a
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lap/shoulder belt. The lap belt portion
should be positioned as low as possible on
the hips to avoid any possible pressure on
the abdomen.
Place the seat backrest in a position that is
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as upright as possible.
Check your seat belt during travel to make
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sure it is properly positioned.
Never place your feet on the instrument
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panel, dashboard, or on the seat. Always
keep both feet on the floor in front of the
seat.
When using a seat belt to secure infant
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restraints, toddler restraints, or children in
booster seats, always follow the child seat
manufacturer's instructions.
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Warning!
Do not pass seat belts over sharp edges. They
could tear.
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