Safety and security – Mercedes-Benz SL-Class 2009 Owners Manual User Manual
Page 51
Occupant safety
49
R
if the system determines that air bag
deployment can offer additional protection
to that provided by the seat belt
R
depending on whether the seat belt is in
use
R
independently of the head-thorax air bags
The front air bags in this vehicle have been
designed to inflate in two stages. This allows
the air bags to have different rates of inflation
that are based on the vehicle deceleration
rate as assessed by the air bag control unit.
On the passenger side, the front air bag
deployment is additionally influenced by the
passenger’s weight category as identified by
the Occupant Classification System (OCS)
(
The lighter the passenger side occupant, the
higher the vehicle deceleration rate required
for second stage inflation of the air bag.
The air bags will not deploy in impacts which
do not exceed the system’s preset deploy-
ment thresholds. You will then be protected
by the fastened seat belts.
The front air bags will not deployed in the
event of a rollover unless the vehicle’s rate of
longitudinal deceleration or acceleration
exceeds the preset deployment threshold for
the front air bags.
The passenger air bag
2
will only be
deployed if:
R
the system, based on OCS weight sensor
readings, detects that the passenger seat
is occupied
R
the
5/
indicator lamp in the center
R
the impact exceeds a preset deployment
threshold
Knee bag
The knee bag
3
is located on the driver side
lower instrument panel. It is designed to oper-
ate together with the driver front air bag in
certain frontal impacts exceeding a preset
deployment threshold. The knee bag
3
oper-
ates best in conjunction with a properly posi-
tioned and fastened seat belt.
Head-thorax air bags
1
Head-thorax air bag
When deployed, the head-thorax air bags are
designed to provide increased protection for
the head and thorax (but not for the arms) on
the side of the vehicle on which the impact
occurs.
The head-thorax air bags are deployed:
R
on the impacted side of the vehicle
R
in side impacts exceeding a preset deploy-
ment threshold
R
if the system determines that air bag
deployment can offer additional protection
to that provided by the seat belt
Safety and security
Z