Untitled - Mercedes-Benz Danmark

Load restraintDue to the dynamic forces which occurwhen transporting goods, an unsecuredload can start moving uncontrollablydue to slipping, tilting or rolling, thusincreasing the risk of accident andinjury.With their load-restraint systems andwide range of special equipment,Mercedes-Benz vans provide professionalload-securing solutions. The Varioincludes a range of different bulkheadvariants and optional load-securingrings.(Above left and centre)Load restraint is primarily achieved by placingloads against the front or rear bulkheads and thesides of the vehicles, and then filling any gaps.It is also possible to use aids such as braces, barsor partition nets or cargo barriers (direct loadrestraint).(Above right)Loads can be tied down to the floor using lashings.This increases friction between load and floor, preventingslippage (indirect load restraint)Safety steering columnThe safety steering column, installedin the Vario in conjunction with thedriver’s front airbag, helps to reducemovement of the steering column inthe event of a frontal collision. The aimis to minimise the risk of injury forthe Vario driver in a frontal collision.The various joints and telescopicsections allow the safety steering columnto yield in a frontal collision.In this way the movement of the steeringwheel is largely decoupled fromthe deformation of the front-end structureof the vehicle.Three-point seat belts with belttensionersCorrectly worn three-point seat beltsrestrain vehicle occupants in their seatsin the event of a frontal collision. Thesystem can be extended with a pyrotechnicbelt tensioner, which is availablein conjunction with the driver’s frontairbag. If the belt tensioner is activatedvia the airbag control unit, it tautens theseat belt in fractions of a second. Thismeans that the occupant takes part in thecollision-induced vehicle decelerationin longitudinal direction at an early stageand as a result is subjected to a lowerdynamic load. It can also reduce forwarddisplacement of the occupant, so thedanger of the head and body contactingthe steering wheel and/or interiorcomponents is reduced. If the driver’sfront airbag (special equipment) isselected, the driver’s seat is fitted withthe belt tensioner as standard.Note: Never drive without wearingyour seat belt!45