Driving; Fastening The Seat Belts - Mercedes-Benz 2005 M-Class Operator's Manual

Driving

Warning!
Do not lay any objects in the driver's foot-
well. Be careful that floor mats or carpets in
the driver's footwell have sufficient clear-
ance for the pedals.
During sudden driving or braking maneu-
vers, the objects could get caught between
the pedals. You could then no longer brake
or accelerate.

Fastening the seat belts

Warning!
Always fasten your seat belt before driving
off. Always make sure your passengers are
properly restrained, even those sitting in the
rear and pregnant women.
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Failure to wear and properly fasten and po-
sition your seat belt greatly increases your
risk of injuries and their likely severity in an
accident. You and your passengers should
always wear seat belts.
If you are ever in an accident, your injuries
can be considerably more severe without
your seat belt properly buckled. Without
your seat belt buckled, you are much more
likely to hit the interior of the vehicle or be
ejected from it. You can be seriously injured
or killed.
In the same crash, the possibility of injury or
death is lessened if you are wearing your
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seat belt. The airbags can only provide the
protection they were designed to afford if
the occupants are using their seat belts
( page 58).
Getting started
Warning!
Children 12 years old and under must never
ride in the front seat, except in a
Mercedes-Benz authorized BabySmart
compatible child seat, which operates with
TM
the BabySmart system installed in the ve-
hicle to deactivate the passenger front air-
bag when it is properly installed. Otherwise
they will be struck by the airbag when it in-
flates in a crash. If this happens, serious or
fatal injury will result.
According to accident statistics, children
are safer when properly restrained in the
rear seating positions than in the front seat-
ing positions. Infants and small children
must ride in back seats and be seated in an
appropriate infant or child restraint system,
which is properly secured with the vehicle's
seat belt and top tether strap, or secured via
lower anchors and top tether strap, fully in
accordance with the child seat manufactur-
er's instructions.
1 TM
BabySmart is a trademark of Siemens
Automotive Corp.
Driving
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TM1
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