How does the restraint system of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter function in the event of an accident?

The restraint system in the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is designed to help protect the vehicle's occupants in the event of an accident. The system consists of several components, including seat belts, airbags, and a crash sensor.

When a collision occurs, the crash sensor sends a signal to the airbag control unit, which deploys the airbags if necessary. The airbags are designed to help cushion the impact and protect the occupants from hitting the interior of the vehicle or being ejected from it.

The seat belts also play an important role in the restraint system. They keep the occupants securely in their seats and help to distribute the forces of the impact over a larger area of the body, which can reduce the risk of injury. In some models of the Sprinter, the seat belts are equipped with pre-tensioners that can automatically tighten the belts in the event of a collision.

Overall, the restraint system in the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is designed to help reduce the risk of injury to the occupants in the event of an accident by providing a combination of passive and active safety features.

How the restraint system works is determined by the severity of the impact detected and the type of accident anticipated:

• frontal impact
• rear impact
• side impact

The activation thresholds for the components of the restraint system are determined based on the evaluation of the sensor values measured at vari‐ ous points in the vehicle. This process is preemptive in nature. The triggering/deployment of the components of the restraint system should take place in good time at the start of the colli‐ sion.

Factors which can only be seen and measured after a collision has occurred cannot play a deci‐ sive role in airbag deployment. Nor do they pro‐ vide an indication of airbag deployment.

The vehicle may be deformed significantly with‐ out an airbag being deployed. This is the case if only parts which are relatively easily deformed are affected and the rate of vehicle deceleration is not high. Conversely, an airbag may be deployed even though the vehicle suffers only minor deformation. If very rigid vehicle parts such as longitudinal members are hit, for example, the vehicle deceleration may be high enough for this to happen.

The components of the restraint system can be activated or deployed independently of each other:

Seat belt tensioners: Frontal impact, rear impact, side impact1)

Driver's airbag, front passenger front air‐ bag: Frontal impact

Side impact airbag: Side impact

Window airbag: Side impact, frontal impact

1) Only if the vehicle is equipped with a side impact airbag or windowbag.

WARNING Rick of burns from hot airbag components

The airbag parts are hot after an airbag has been deployed.

• Do not touch the airbag parts.
• Have a deployed airbag replaced at a qualified specialist workshop as soon as possible.

Mercedes-Benz recommends that you have the vehicle towed to a qualified specialist workshop after an accident. Take this into account, particu‐ larly if a seat belt tensioner was triggered or an airbag was deployed.

If the seat belt tensioners are triggered or an air‐ bag is deployed, you will hear a bang, and a small amount of powder may also be released:

• The bang will not generally affect your hear‐ ing.
• In general, the powder released is not hazard‐ ous to health but may cause short-term breathing difficulties to persons suffering from asthma or other pulmonary conditions.

Provided it is safe to do so, leave the vehicle immediately or open the window in order to prevent breathing difficulties.