Introduction - Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Operating Instructions Manual

Occupant safety
44
it goes out once the driver has fastened the seat
belt.
Airbags

Introduction

The airbag installation location is identified by
the label SRS/AIRBAG or AIRBAG.
An airbag supplements a correctly fastened seat
belt. It is not a substitute for seat belts. The air-
bag provides additional protection in the corre-
sponding accident situations.
Not all airbags are deployed in an accident. The
various airbag systems work independently of
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one another ( page 46).
However, no system available today can com-
pletely eliminate injuries and fatalities.
Due to the required speed of the airbag after
deployment, it is also not possible to entirely
rule out the risk of injuries caused by the airbag.
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
If you deviate from the correct seat position,
the airbag cannot perform its intended pro-
tective function and can even cause addi-
tional injuries when deployed. There is an
increased risk of serious or even fatal injuries.
In order to avoid such risks, always ensure
that all vehicle occupants:
fasten their seatbelts correctly, including
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pregnant women
are seated correctly and maintain the fur-
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thest possible distance from the airbags
observe the following notes
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Always ensure that there are no objects loca-
ted between the airbag and the vehicle occu-
pant.
Adjust the seats properly before beginning
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your journey. Always make sure that the seat
is in an almost upright position. The centre of
the head restraint must support the head at
about eye level.
Move the driver's and front-passenger seats
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as far back as possible. The driver's seat posi-
tion must allow the vehicle to be driven safely.
Hold the steering wheel only by the rim. This
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allows the airbag to be fully deployed.
Always lean against the backrest while driv-
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ing. Do not lean forwards or lean against the
door or side window. You may otherwise be in
the deployment area of the airbags.
Always keep your feet in the footwell in front
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of the seat. Do not put your feet on the dash-
board, for example. Your feet may otherwise
be in the deployment area of the airbag.
Always secure persons less than 1.50 m tall in
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suitable restraint systems. Up to this height,
the seat belt cannot be worn correctly.
If a child is travelling in your vehicle, also
observe the following notes:
Always secure children under twelve years of
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age and less than 1.50 m tall in suitable child
restraint systems.
Child restraint systems should be fitted to the
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rear seats.
Always secure a child in a rearward-facing
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child restraint system on a suitable rear seat.
The front-passenger front airbag cannot be
disabled.
Be sure to observe the instructions and safety
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notes on "Children in the vehicle"
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( page 47) and on the "Child restraint sys-
tem on the front-passenger seat"
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( page 50) in addition to the manufactur-
er's operating and installation instructions for
the child restraint system.
Objects in the vehicle interior may prevent
the airbag from functioning correctly. Before
starting your journey and to avoid risks resulting
from the speed of the airbag as it deploys, make
sure that:
there are no people, animals or objects
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between the vehicle occupants and an airbag
there are no objects between the seat, door
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and B-pillar
there are no hard objects, e.g. coat hangers,
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hanging on the grab handles or coat hooks
no accessories, such as cup holders, are
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attached to the vehicle within the deployment
area of an airbag, e.g. to doors or side win-
dows
no heavy, sharp-edged or fragile objects are in
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the pockets of your clothing. Store such
objects in a suitable place.