Mercedes-Benz GL-Class: Important safety notes - DISTRONIC - Driving systems - Driving and parking - Mercedes-Benz GL-Class Owner's ManualMercedes-Benz GL-Class: Important safety notes

DISTRONIC regulates the speed and automatically helps you maintain the distance to the vehicle detected in front. It brakes automatically in order to avoid exceeding the set speed.

On long and steep downhill gradients, especially if the vehicle is laden or towing a trailer, you must select shift range 1, 2 or 3 in good time. By doing so, you will make use of the braking effect of the engine, which relieves the load on the brake system and prevents the brakes from overheating and wearing too quickly.

If a slower-moving vehicle is detected in front, DISTRONIC causes your vehicle to brake and maintain the preset distance to the vehicle in front.

WARNING The Distronic requires familiarity with its 
The Distronic requires familiarity with its operational characteristics. We strongly recommend that you review the following information carefully before operating the system.

WARNING When DISTRONIC brakes, the brake pedal is 
When DISTRONIC brakes, the brake pedal is pulled back (i.e. operated automatically). The area around the pedal must not be blocked by obstacles:
do not place any objects in the footwell.
ensure that floormats and carpets are fixed securely. In particular, do not place several floormats on top of one another.
do not place your foot under the brake pedal, as it could become trapped.
Non-compliance could lead you to cause an accident in which you and/or others could be seriously injured.

WARNING The Distronic is a convenience system. Its 
The Distronic is a convenience system. Its speed adjustment reduction capability is intended to make cruise control more effective and usable when traffic speeds vary.
It is not however, intended to, nor does it, replace the need for extreme care.
The responsibility for the vehicle's speed, distance to the preceding vehicle and, most importantly, brake operation to ensure a safe stopping distance, always remains with the driver.
The Distronic cannot take street and traffic conditions into account. Complex driving situations are not always fully recognized by the Distronic. This could result in wrong or missing distance warnings.

If there is no vehicle driving in front of you, DISTRONIC functions like cruise control at a speed range between 20 mph (30 km/h) and 120 mph (200 km/h). If a vehicle is driving in front of you, it functions at a speed range between 0 mph (0 km/h) and 120 mph (200 km/h).

Do not use DISTRONIC while driving on roads with steep gradients.

WARNING DISTRONIC distance control is not a 
DISTRONIC distance control is not a substitute for the driver's active involvement.
It does not react to pedestrians or stationary objects and cannot detect or predict the road's course and the movements of the vehicles in front.
DISTRONIC can only brake using 40% of the vehicle's maximum possible braking force.
The driver must always pay attention to road, weather and traffic conditions. He must steer, brake and drive the vehicle so that he maintains control over it.
High-frequency sources such as toll stations, velocity measurement systems, etc. may cause DISTRONIC to malfunction.

WARNING The Distronic cannot take road and traffic 
The Distronic cannot take road and traffic conditions into account. Only use the Distronic if the road, weather and traffic conditions make it advisable to travel at a constant speed.

WARNING Use of the Distronic can be dangerous on 
Use of the Distronic can be dangerous on slippery roads. Rapid changes in tire traction can result in wheel spin and loss of control.
The Distronic does not function in adverse sight and distance conditions. Do not use the Distronic during conditions of fog, heavy rain, snow or sleet.

WARNING The Distronic cannot take weather conditions 
The Distronic cannot take weather conditions into account. Switch off the Distronic or do not switch it on if:
roads are slippery or covered with snow or ice. The wheels could lose traction while braking or accelerating, and the vehicle could skid.
the Distronic system sensor cover is dirty or visibility is diminished due to snow, rain or fog, for example. The distance control system functionality could be impaired.
Always pay attention to surrounding traffic conditions even while the Distronic is switched on. Otherwise, you may not be able to recognize dangerous situations until it is too late. This could cause an accident in which you and/or others could be injured.

WARNING The "Resume" function should only be 
The "Resume" function should only be operated if the driver is fully aware of the previously set speed and wishes to resume this particular preset speed.

WARNING Close attention to road and traffic conditions 
Close attention to road and traffic conditions is imperative at all times, regardless of whether or not the Distronic is activated.
Use of the Distronic can be dangerous on winding roads or in heavy traffic because conditions do not allow safe driving at a constant speed.
The Distronic will not react to stationary objects in the roadway (e.g. a stopped vehicle in a traffic jam or a disabled vehicle). The Distronic will also not respond to oncoming vehicles.
Switch off the Distronic
when changing from the left to the right lane if vehicles are moving more slowly in the left lane
when entering a turn lane or highway off ramp
in complex driving situations, such as in highway construction zones
In these situations, the Distronic will continue to maintain the set speed unless deactivated.
The Distronic is designed and intended only to maintain a set speed and keep a set distance from moving objects in front of it.

USA only:

This device has been approved by the FCC as a “Vehicular Radar System”. The radar sensor is intended for use in an automotive radar system only. Removal, tampering, or altering of the device will void any warranties, and is not permitted by the FCC. Do not tamper with, alter, or use in any non-approved way.

Any unauthorized modification to this device could void the user's authority to operate the equipment.

    DISTRONIC
    ...

    Cruise control lever
    1 To store the current speed or a higher speed 2 To store the current speed or a lower speed 3 To deactivate DISTRONIC 4 To store the current speed or to call up the last stored speed ...

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