Emergency Tensioning Retractor (Etr) - Mercedes-Benz 420 SEL 1989 Owner's Manual

• Infants and small children
must be seated in an infant or
child restraint system, which
is properly secured by a lap
belt or lap belt portion of a
lap-shoulder belt. Children
could be endangered in an
accident if their child re­
straints are not properly se­
cured in the vehicle.
• Children too big for child re­
straint systems should ride in
rear seats using regular seat
belts. Position shoulder belt
across the chest and shoulder,
not the face or neck. A boos­
ter seat may be necessary.
• Each seat belt should not be
used for more than one per­
son at a time.
• Belts should not be worn
twisted.
• Pregnant women should
select a seat with a lap-shoul-
der belt whenever possible.
The lap belt should be
positioned as low as possible
around the hips to avoid
any possible pressure on the
abdomen.
For cleaning and care of the seat
belts, see page 94.
40
SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT
SYSTEM (SRS)
Emergency Tensioning
Retractor (ETR)
The seat belts for the front seats are
equipped with emergency tensioning
retractors. These tensioning retractors
are located in each belt's inertia reel
and become operationally ready with
the key in steering lock position 1
or 2.
The emergency tensioning retractors
are designed to activate only when
the seat belts are fastened during ma­
jor frontal impacts within the shaded
area shown. They tighten the belts in
such a way that they fit more snugly
against the body restricting its for­
ward movement as much as possible.
In cases of less severe frontal im­
pacts, roll-overs, certain side impacts,
rear collisions, or other accidents
without major frontal forces, the
emergency tensioning retractors will
not be activated. The driver and pas­
sengers will then be protected by the
fastened seat belts and inertia reel in
the usual manner.
For seat belt and emergency ten­
sioning retractor safety guidelines,
see page 43.