Mercedes-Benz 2015 GLK Operator's Manual page 179

You must select a low gear in good time on
long and steep downhill gradients, especially
if the vehicle is laden or towing a trailer. By
doing so, you will make use of the braking
effect of the engine. This relieves the load on
the brake system and prevents the brakes
from overheating and wearing too quickly.
If DISTRONIC PLUS detects a slower-moving
vehicle in front, your vehicle is braked in order
to maintain the preset distance to the vehicle
in front.
G WARNING
DISTRONIC PLUS does not react to:
people or animals
R
stationary obstacles on the road, e.g. stop-
R
ped or parked vehicles
oncoming and crossing traffic
R
As a result, DISTRONIC PLUS may neither give
warnings nor intervene in such situations.
There is a risk of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic sit-
uation and be ready to brake.
G WARNING
DISTRONIC PLUS cannot always clearly iden-
tify other road users and complex traffic sit-
uations.
In such cases, DISTRONIC PLUS may:
give an unnecessary warning and then
R
brake the vehicle
neither give a warning nor intervene
R
accelerate or brake unexpectedly
R
There is a risk of an accident.
Continue to drive carefully and be ready to
brake, in particular when warned to do so by
DISTRONIC PLUS.
G WARNING
DISTRONIC PLUS brakes your vehicle with up
to 40% of the maximum braking force. If this
braking force is insufficient, DISTRONIC PLUS
warns you visually and audibly. There is a risk
of an accident.
Driving systems
In such cases, apply the brakes yourself and
try to take evasive action.
! If DISTRONIC PLUS or the HOLD function
is activated, the vehicle brakes automati-
cally in certain situations. To prevent dam-
age to the vehicle, deactivate DISTRONIC
PLUS and the HOLD function in the follow-
ing or other similar situations:
when towing the vehicle
R
in the car wash
R
If you fail to adapt your driving style, DIS-
TRONIC PLUS can neither reduce the risk of
accident nor override the laws of physics.
DISTRONIC PLUS cannot take into account
the road, traffic and weather conditions. DIS-
TRONIC PLUS is only an aid. You are respon-
sible for the distance to the vehicle in front,
for vehicle speed, for braking in good time and
for staying in your lane.
Do not use DISTRONIC PLUS:
in road and traffic conditions which do not
R
allow you to maintain a constant speed e.g.
in heavy traffic or on winding roads
on slippery road surfaces. Braking or accel-
R
erating could cause the drive wheels to lose
traction and the vehicle could then skid
when there is poor visibility, e.g. due to fog,
R
heavy rain or snow
DISTRONIC PLUS may not detect narrow
vehicles driving in front, e.g. motorcycles, or
vehicles driving on a different line.
In particular, the detection of obstacles can
be impaired if:
there is dirt on the sensors or anything else
R
covering the sensors
there is snow or heavy rain
R
there is interference by other radar sources
R
there are strong radar reflections, for
R
example, in parking garages
If DISTRONIC PLUS no longer detects a vehi-
cle in front, DISTRONIC PLUS may unexpect-
edly accelerate the vehicle to the stored
speed.
177
Z