Occupant safety
38
Safety and security
Activation of emergency tensioning re-
tractors, belt force limiters and airbags
In the event of a collision, the sensor in the
airbag control unit evaluates important
physical data, such as duration, direction
and rate of vehicle deceleration or acceler-
ation. Based on the evaluation of this data
and depending on the vehicle's rate of lon-
gitudinal deceleration in a collision, in the
first stage, the airbag control unit pre-emp-
tively deploys the emergency tensioning
retractors.
The front airbags are not deployed unless
a second activation threshold is exceeded,
i.e. if there is a greater rate of vehicle de-
celeration in a longitudinal direction.
Criteria for deployment of emergency
tensioning retractors and airbags
To determine whether it is necessary to de-
ploy an emergency tensioning retractor or
airbag, the airbag control unit evaluates
the duration and direction of deceleration
or acceleration during the initial phase of
the collision.
The emergency tensioning retractor and
airbag activation thresholds are variable
and are adapted to the rate of the vehicle
deceleration. This process is pre-emptive
in nature as the airbag must be deployed
during – and not at the end of – the colli-
sion.
i Airbags are not deployed in all types of acci-
dent. They are actually controlled by complex
sensor technology and evaluation logic. This pro-
cess is pre-emptive in nature as airbag deploy-
ment must take place during the impact and
must be adapted to provide calculated, addition-
al protection for the vehicle occupants. Not all
airbags are deployed in an accident.
The various airbag systems work independently
of each other. However, all systems depend on
the type (frontal or side impact) and severity (in
particular vehicle deceleration or acceleration)
of accident determined in the initial phase of the
accident.
Vehicle deceleration or acceleration and
the direction of the force are essentially
determined by:
O the distribution of the force during the
impact
O the collision angle
O the deformation characteristics of the
vehicle
O the composition of the object involved
in the collision, for example the other
vehicle
G Warning
A malfunction has occurred if the + warn-
ing lamp:
O does not come on when you switch on
the ignition
O does not go out after approximately
4 seconds
O lights up again
Individual systems may be activated uninten-
tionally or may not be deployed in the event
of an accident with a high rate of vehicle de-
celeration.
In this case, have the SRS system checked
and repaired immediately at an authorized
Sprinter Dealer. In particular, work relevant
to safety or on safety-related systems must
be carried out at an authorized Sprinter Deal-
er.
G Warning
Emergency tensioning retractors and airbags
contain perchlorate, which may require spe-
cial handling and regard for the environment.
Check with your local government's disposal
guidelines.
California residents, see
http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/
HazardousWaste/Perchlorate/index.cfm.
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