2003 SKODA SUPERB belt

Seats and Stowage
74
Head restraintsAdjusting the height of a head restraint
– Grasp the side of the head restraint with both hands and push
it up or down in direction of arrow ⇒fig. 55 . Best protection
is achieved if the top edge of the head restraint is at least at
eye level or higher.
Adjusting the angle of a head restraint
– The head restraint can be matched to the head of the occu- pant by adjusting the angle in the direction of the arrow .
Adjusting the angle of the head restraint provides enhanced
comfort for the user.
Removing and installing a head restraint
– Pull the head restraint out of the backrest of the seat as far as the stop.
– Press the locking button in direction of arrow ⇒fig. 55 and
pull the head restraint out.
– To re-insert the head restraint, push it down into the backrest of the seat far enough until you hear the locking button
engage.
The head restraints of the front seats can be adjusted for angle and height
⇒fig. 54, the outer head restraints at the rear can be adjusted for height
(about 15 mm). The middle rear head restraint is fixed.
The head restraints must be adjusted to match the size of the seat occu-
pant. Correctly adjusted head restraints together with the seat belts offer
effective protection for the occupants.
Fig. 54 Adjusting head
restraint
Fig. 55 Removing a
head restraint
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Seats and Stowage
76
– Shift the seat forwards or backwards using switch .
– Move the rear part of the seat upwards or downwards using switch .
Caution
•The maximum loading of the foldable central part of the seat is 30 kilo-
grams.
•Never use the foldable central part of the seat as an additional seat.
Note
You can use a protective sack ⇒ page 76 in order to prevent any dirt
getting onto the passenger seat.
Protective sack
When using the foldable central part of the back rest the
protective sack reduces dirt getting on the passenger seat.
The protective sack is stored in the storage compartment in the
back rest of the driver's seat.
Installing the protective sack
– Lay the unfolded protective sack on the passenger seat.
– Fold out the central part of the back rest ⇒page 75.
– Pull the belt through the opening in the passenger seat and pull it over the head restraint ⇒fig. 58 .
– Pull the belt under the folded down support and secure it with head .
– The protective sack is folded up in the reverse order.
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Fig. 58 Front
passenger seat: Protec-
tive sack
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Seats and Stowage81
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
Caution
Please ensure that the heating elements of the rear window heater are not
damaged as a result of objects placed in this area.
Through-loading bag*
The through-loading bag enables you to conveniently
transport long objects (such as skis) without damaging the
interior of the car.
Loading
– Fold down the armrest of the rear seats to the front.
– Press the unlock button for the cover of the through-loading
bag in the interior of the car and swivel it down.
– Pull the bag out and unfold it.
– Open the boot lid/luggage compartment door.
– Press the unlock button for the cover of the through-loading bag ⇒fig. 65 and swivel it down.
– Push the objects into the through-loading bag from the boot ⇒ .
Securing
– Insert the belt ⇒fig. 66 into the middle seat belt buckle .
WARNING
No objects should be placed on the luggage compartment cover,
the vehicle occupants could be endangered if there is sudden
braking or the vehicle collides with something.
Fig. 65 Luggage
compartment: cover for
through-loading bag
Fig. 66 Attaching
through-loading bag to
middle seat belt buckle
of rear seats
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Seats and Stowage
82
– Pull the seat belt tight in direction of arrow ⇒page 81,
fig. 66 .
Stowing
– Close the cover for the through-loading bag in the boot.
– Carefully fold the through-loading bag together (approx. 11 cm packet).
– Close the cover in the interior of the car.
– Move the armrest back into its original position.
Note
Never fold the though-loading bag together if it is moist.
The cool box in the armrest of rear seats*
Using the system
The contents of the cool box is cooled to a temperature of about
20 °C below the ambient temperature, but to a maximum of
approx.+ 5 °C.
Opening and Closing
– Pull the handle ⇒fig. 67 and pull the lid downwards.
– Open up the lid of the cool box upwards until it is heard to lock.
Switching on and off
– The cooling action of the cool box is switched on and off using switch ⇒fig. 67 . It is signalised by the lighting up of the
indicator light on the switch.
WARNING
After placing items into the through-loading bag, you must secure
the bag with the belt .
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AAFig. 67 Cool box
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Passive Safety137
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Safety
Passive Safety
Driving the safe way
Passive safety measures reduce the risk of injury in acci-
dent situations.
In this section you will find important information, tips and notes on the
subject of passive safety in your vehicle. We have combined everything
here which you should be familiar with, for example, regarding seat belts,
airbags, child seats and safety of children. It is therefore important, in
particular, to comply with the notes and warnings in this section for your
own interest and in the interest of all those travelling with you.
The information provided in this section applies to all models of your type
of vehicle. It is also possible that equipment is described here which does
not necessarily apply to your vehicle.
Requirements for maximum safety
What you have to pay attention to in order to obtain the
maximum protection from the passive safety measures.
It is important that you comply with the following requirements in order to
ensure that the seat belts and the airbag systems offer you and the occu-
pants of your vehicle maximum protection:
•front seats correctly adjusted ⇒page 69, “Front seats”,
•head restraints adjusted to match your body size ⇒page 74,
•seat belts correctly fastened and adjusted ⇒page 141,
•adopting a correct seated position
WARNING
Please do not forget to give the new owner the complete vehicle
documentation, if you sell your vehicle, including the service
schedule and documents relating to the possible deactivation of
airbags.

Seat belts
138
Seat belts
Why seat belts?
It is a proven fact that seat belts offer good protection in accidents
⇒ fig. 120 . Thus wearing a seat belt is a legal requirement in most coun-
tries.
Seat belts which have been correctly fastened and adjusted hold the
occupants of the car in the correct seated position ⇒ fig. 120. The belts
reduce the kinetic energy (energy of motion) to a considerable extent.
They also prevent uncontrolled movements which, in turn, may well result
in severe injuries.
The occupants of a vehicle who have fastened and correctly adjusted their
seat belt, profit to a major extent from the fact that the kinetic energy is
optimally absorbed by the belts. The structure of the front end of the
vehicle and other passive safety measures, such as the airbag system,
also contribute to reducing the kinetic energy. The energy produced is
thus absorbed and there is less risk of injury. Accident statistics prove that seat belts which are fastened and properly
adjusted reduce the risk of an injury and enhance the chance of survival
in a major accident
⇒page 139.
It is important that you pay attention to safety measures, particularly when
transporting children in the vehicle ⇒page 157, “What you should know
about transporting children!”.
Note
Please comply with any differing legal requirements when using the seat
belts.
Fig. 120 Driver
wearing seat belt (a
basic illustration)
WARNING
•Fasten your seat belt each time before setting off, also when
driving in town! This also applies to the people seated at the rear -
risk of injury!
•Expectant women must also always wear a seat belt. This is the
only way of ensuring optimal protection for the unborn child
⇒ page 141.
•It is important for the belt webbing to be properly routed if the
seat belts are to offer the maximum protection. You can see a
description of how safety belts should be fitted properly on the
next pages.

Seat belts139
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The physical principle of a frontal
collision
The physical principle of a frontal accident can be explained quite simply: As soon as the vehicle is moving, so-called kinetic energy (the energy of
motion) is produced both in terms of the car as well as in terms of the
occupants. The magnitude of this kinetic energy depends essentially on
the speed at which the vehicle is travelling and on the weight of the vehicle
and the occupants. The greater the speed and weight increase, the
greater the amount of energy which has to be absorbed in the event of an
accident.
The speed of the vehicle is, nevertheless, the most important factor.
Doubling the speed of the vehicle from 25 km/h up to 50 km/hour
increases the kinetic energy four times.
The common opinion that it is possible to support your body in a minor
accident with your hands, is incorrect. Even in a collision at only a low
speed, the forces acting on the body are such that it is no longer possible
to support your body.
Even if you only drive at a speed within the range from 30 km/hour to 50
km/hour, the forces which are produced on your body in the event of an
accident can easily exceed 10,000 N (Newton). This equals a weight of
one tonne (1 000 kg).
In the event of a frontal collision, occupants of the car not wearing a seat
belt, are thrown forward and strike in an uncontrolled way parts of the inte-
rior of the car, such as steering wheel, dash panel, windscreen,
⇒fig. 121 .
The occupants of a vehicle who have not fastened their seat belts may
even be thrown out of the vehicle. This can result in fatal injuries.
It is also important that rear seat passengers fasten their seat belts as they
will otherwise be thrown through the vehicle in an uncontrolled manner in
the event of an accident A rear seat passenger who has not fastened the
seat belt is a danger not only to himself but also for those seated at the
front ⇒fig. 122 .
Fig. 121 The driver is
thrown forward if not
wearing a belt
Fig. 122 The rear seat
occupant is thrown
forward if not wearing a
belt

Seat belts
140
Important safety information regarding
the use of seat belts
The correct use of the seat belts considerably reduces the
risk of injury!
WARNING
•The belt webbing must not be jammed in-between at any point
or twisted, or chafe against any sharp edges.
•No two persons (also not children) should ever use a single
seat belt together.
•The maximum protection which seat belts can offer is only
achieved if you are correctly seated ⇒page 69.
•The belt webbing must not run across solid or fragile objects
(e.g. spectacles, ball-point pens, keys etc.) as this may be a cause
of injuries.
•Bulky, loose clothing (e.g. a winter coat over a jacket) does not
allow you to be correctly seated and impairs proper operation of
the seat belts.
•It is prohibited to use clamps or other objects to adjust seat
belts (e.g. for shortening the belts for smaller persons).
•The lock tongue should only be inserted into the lock which is
the correct one for your seat. Wrong use of the safety belt will
reduce its capacity to protect.
•The backrests of the front seats must not be tilted too far to the
rear otherwise the seatbelts can lose their effectiveness.
•The belt webbing must always be kept clean. Soiled belt
webbing may impair proper operation of the inertia reel
⇒ page 196.
WARNING (continued)
•The slot of the belt tongue must not be blocked by paper or
similar objects otherwise the belt tongue will not lock in place
properly.
•Damaged seat belts which have been subjected to stress in an
accident and were therefore stretched, must be replaced - this is
best done by a Škoda dealer. The anchorage points of the belts
must also be inspected. The anchorage points for the belts should
also be checked.
•In certain countries it is possible to use seat belts which differ
in terms of their operation from the seat belts which are described
on the pages which follow.