Modifications to or work incorrectly performed on the restraint systems (seat belts and their anchorages) could prevent the restraint systems from functioning as intended. For this reason, never carry out any modifications to the restraint systems.

To reduce the risk of serious or even fatal injuries, make sure that all vehicle occupants - in particular, pregnant women - have fastened their seat belt correctly, that they have adopted a normal upright position and that the seat is positioned almost vertically.

If you do not wear the seat belt correctly or if you do not engage it in its buckle correctly, the seat belt cannot perform its intended protective function. This could result in serious or even fatal injury. For this reason, make sure that all occupants - in particular, pregnant women - always wear their seat belts correctly for every trip.

Make sure that the belt:

• crosses over your pelvis as low down as possible, i.e. over your hip joints and not across your stomach

• is close-fitting

• is not twisted

• crosses over the middle of your shoulder

• is not routed across your neck or under your arm

• is pulled tight over your hip joints by pulling the shoulder section of the belt upwards

Do not secure an object with a seat belt if the seat belt is also being used by one of the vehicle’s occupants.

Avoid wearing bulky clothing, e.g. a winter coat.

Do not route the seat belt strap over sharp or fragile objects, especially if these are on or in your clothing, e.g. spectacles, pens or keys. The seat belt strap could tear, which could result in injury to yourself or other vehicle occupants.

Only one person should use each seat belt at any one time.

On no account should children travel sitting on the lap of another occupant. It would not be possible to restrain the child in the event of an accident, braking or a sudden change in direction. This could result in serious injuries to the child and other vehicle occupants in the event of abrupt braking or even fatal injuries in the event of an accident.

Persons less than 1.50 m tall and children under twelve years of age cannot wear their seat belt properly. For this reason, secure these occupants in special suitable restraint systems installed on a suitable seat. Always observe the installation instructions of the child restraint system manufacturer.

The seat belt can only provide the degree of protection intended if the backrest is in an almost vertical position and the occupant is sitting upright. Avoid seat positions which do not allow a seat belt to be routed correctly. For this reason, position the backrest as close to the vertical as possible. Never drive with the backrest tilted back too far.

Three-point seat belts provide better restraint when compared to lap belts and therefore provide better protection against injuries.

The seat belt cannot function correctly if the belt or buckle is dirty or damaged. Keep the belt and buckle clean, otherwise the belt tongue cannot engage correctly.

Regularly check the seat belts to make sure that they:

• are not damaged

• are not routed over sharp edges

• are not trapped

Otherwise, the belt could tear in the event of an accident. You or others could be seriously or even fatally injured.

Have seat belts which have been damaged or subjected to heavy loads in an accident replaced and have their anchorages checked.

For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recommends that you only use seat belts which have been specially approved for your vehicle by Mercedes-Benz.

When the lap belt is not being used, ensure the belt tongue is always engaged in the seat belt buckle. The belt can otherwise be thrown around during the journey and in case of accidents cause injuries to other passengers.

Do not leave children unsupervised in the vehicle even if they are secured in a child restraint system. They could:

• injure themselves on parts of the vehicle

• open the doors and thereby injure themselves and others. Or they could get out of the vehicle, injuring themselves in doing so or they could be injured by a passing vehicle

• be seriously or even fatally injured by prolonged exposure to intense heat or cold

• sustain serious injuries if they were to fall out of the cab, due to its height from the ground

Do not expose the child restraint system to direct sunlight, as this could cause, for example, metal parts of the child restraint system to become very hot. Touching these parts could cause skin burns.

To reduce the risk of serious or even fatal injuries to children in the event of an accident, braking or a sudden change in direction, please observe the following:

• Always secure children less than 1.50 m tall or under twelve years of age in a special child restraint system on the co-driver's seat, since they cannot wear the seat belts correctly.

• Do not secure children less than twelve years of age on the co-driver's seat, unless the child is secured in a child restraint system installed on this seat.

• Do not allow a child to travel sitting on the lap of a vehicle occupant. It would not be possible to restrain a child as a result of the forces acting in the event of an accident, braking or sudden changes in direction. The child would be thrown against the vehicle interior and would be seriously or even fatally injured.

• All vehicle occupants must wear their seat belt correctly at all times.

If you use a forward-facing child restraint system without automatic child seat recognition on the co-driver's seat, you must move the co-driver's seat to its rearmost position.

A child seat system that has been fitted incorrectly could come loose in the event of an accident, braking or a sudden change in direction and the child and other vehicle occupants could be seriously or even fatally injured.

For this reason, do not place objects (e.g. a cushion) underneath the child restraint system. The entire base of the child restraint system must be in contact with the seat cushion at all times.

Observe the installation instructions issued by the child restraint system manufacturer when fitting the child restraint system.

A child restraint system must not be used without the genuine cover designed for it. Only replace damaged covers with genuine covers.

A child secured in a child restraint system could be seriously or even fatally injured in the event of an accident, braking or a sudden change of direction if the child restraint system or its mountings have been damaged or subjected to a load in an accident.

For this reason, have restraint systems and their mountings that have been damaged or subjected to a load in an accident checked immediately and replaced, if necessary, at a qualified specialist workshop which has the necessary specialist knowledge and tools for the work required.

Mercedes-Benz recommends that you use a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre for this purpose. All work relevant to safety or on safety-related systems must be carried out at a qualified specialist workshop.