14 Safe driving
WARNING
The driving behaviour and braking ability change when transporting
heavy and large objects.
●Adjust your speed and driving style to visibility, road, traffic and
weather conditions.
●Accelerate gently and carefully.
●Avoid sudden braking and manoeuvres.
●Brake early.
Transporting a load
Secure all objects in the vehicle
●Distribute the load throughout the vehicle, on the roof and in a trailer as
uniformly as possible.
●Transport heavy objects as far forward as possible in the luggage com-
partment and lock the seat backs in the vertical position.
●Secure luggage in the luggage compartment with suitable straps on the
fastening rings ⇒ page 126.
●Check the headlight adjustment ⇒ page 95.
●Use the suitable tyre pressure according to the load being transported.
Read the tire inflation information label ⇒ page 296.
●For vehicles with a tire pressure indicator, change the vehicle load status
⇒ page 224.
CAUTION
Objects on the shelf could chafe against the wires of the heating element in
the heated rear window and cause damage.
Note
Please note the information about loading a trailer ⇒ page 236 and the
roof carrier system ⇒ page 139.
Driving with the rear lid open
Driving with the rear lid open creates an additional risk. Secure all objects
and secure the rear lid correctly and take all measures possible to reduce
toxic gases from entering the vehicle.
WARNING
Driving with the rear lid unlocked or open could cause serious injuries.
●Always drive with the rear lid closed.
●Secure all objects in the vehicle. Loose items could fall out of the ve-
hicle and injure other road users or damage other vehicles.
●Drive particularly carefully and think ahead.
●Avoid sudden manoeuvres and braking given that this could cause an
uncontrolled movement of the open rear lid.
●When transporting objects that protrude out of the luggage compart-
ment, indicate them suitably. Observe legal requirements.
●If objects must project out of the luggage compartment, the rear lid
must never be used to “secure” or “attach” objects.
●If a baggage rack is fitted on the rear lid, it should be removed before
travelling with the rear lid open.
