Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe Operator's Manual page 57

acceleration which occurs at various points in
the vehicle. This process is pre-emptive in
nature. Deployment should take place in good
time at the start of the collision.
The rate of vehicle deceleration or acceleration
and the direction of the force are essentially
determined by:
the distribution of forces during the collision
R
the collision angle
R
the deformation characteristics of the vehicle
R
the characteristics of the object with which
R
the vehicle has collided
Factors which can only be seen and measured
after a collision has occurred do not play a deci-
sive role in the deployment of an air bag. Nor do
they provide an indication of air bag deploy-
ment.
The vehicle can be deformed considerably, with-
out an air bag being deployed. This is the case if
only parts which are relatively easily deformed
are affected and the rate of deceleration is not
high. Conversely, air bags may be deployed even
though the vehicle suffers only minor deforma-
tion. This is the case if, for example, very rigid
vehicle parts such as longitudinal body mem-
bers are hit, and sufficient deceleration occurs
as a result.
If the restraint system control unit detects a side
impact or if the vehicle rolls over, the applicable
components of the restraint system are activa-
ted independently of each other depending on
the apparent type of accident.
Side impact air bags on the side of impact,
R
independently of the Emergency Tensioning
Device and the use of the seat belt on the
driver's seat and in the rear compartment
seats
The side impact air bag on the front-
passenger side deploys under the following
conditions:
the OCS system detects that the front-
-
passenger seat is occupied or
the belt tongue is engaged in the belt
-
buckle of the front-passenger seat
Window curtain air bag on the side of impact,
R
independently of the use of the seat belt and
independently of whether the front-
passenger seat is occupied
Occupant safety
Emergency Tensioning Devices, if the system
R
determines that deployment can offer addi-
tional protection in this situation
Window curtain air bags on the driver's and
R
front-passenger side in certain situations
when the vehicle rolls over, if the system
determines that deployment can offer addi-
tional protection to that provided by the seat
belt
i
Not all air bags are deployed in an accident.
The different air bag systems work independ-
ently of each other.
How the air bag system works is determined
by the severity of the accident detected,
especially the vehicle deceleration or accel-
eration and the apparent type of accident:
Frontal collision
R
Side impact
R
Rollover
R
®
PRE-SAFE (anticipatory occupant
protection system)
Introduction
In certain hazardous situations, PRE-SAFE
takes pre-emptive measures to protect the vehi-
cle occupants.
Important safety notes
!
Make sure that there are no objects in the
footwell or behind the seats. There is a danger
that the seats and/or objects could be dam-
aged when PRE-SAFE
Despite your vehicle being equipped with the
®
PRE-SAFE system, the possibility of personal
injuries occurring as a result of an accident can-
not be eliminated. Always adapt your driving
style to suit the prevailing road and weather
conditions and maintain a safe distance from
the vehicle in front. Drive carefully.
®
®
is activated.
Z
55