
Passive Safety143
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
Correct seated position for th e occupants on the rear
seats
Occupants on the rear seats must sit upright, keep the feet
in the footwell and must have their seat belts correctly
fastened.
To reduce the risk of injury in the event of a sudden braking manoeuvre or
an accident, the occupants on the rear seats must observe the following.
•Adjust the head restraints so that the top edge of the head restraints
are at the same level as the upper part of your head ⇒page 141, fig. 123 .
•Fasten the seat belt correctly ⇒page 148, “How are seat belts
correctly fastened?”.
•If you are transporting ⇒ page 164, “Transporting children safely” chil-
dren in the vehicle, please use a suitable child restraint system.
WARNING
•The head restraints must always be adjusted to match the body
size, in order to offer an optimal protection for you and your occu-
pants.
•Always keep your feet in the footwell when the car is being
driven - never put your feet out of the window or on the surfaces of
the seats. You will be exposed to increased risk of injury if it
becomes necessary to apply the brake or in the event of an acci-
dent. If an airbag is deployed, you may suffer fatal injuries when
adopting an incorrect seated position!
•If the occupants on the rear seats are not sitting upright, the risk
of injury is increased due to in correct routing of the seat belt.
Examples of an incorrect seated position
An incorrect seated position can lead to severe injuries or
death for the occupants.
Seat belts offer their optimum protection only if the webbing of the seat
belts is properly routed. Incorrect seated positions considerably reduce
the protective functions of the seat belts and therefore increase the risk of
injury due to an incorrect routing of the seat belt. The driver is fully respon-
sible for himself and his occupants, in particular for the children. Do not
permit an occupant to adopt an incorrect seated position when the car is
moving.
The following list contains the examples of seated positions which are
dangerous for the occupants. This list is not complete, however we would
like you to get interested in this subject.
Therefore, while the car is moving never:
•stand up in the vehicle,
•stand up on the seats,
•kneel onto the seats,
•tilt the backrest fully to the back,
•lean against the dash panel,
•lie on the rear seats,
•only sit on the front area of the seat,
•sit to the side,
•lean out of the window,
•put the feet out of the window,
•put the feet on the dash panel,
•put the feet on the seat upholstery,
•occupy the footwell,
•have the seat belt not fastened,

Seat belts145
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
Seat belts
Why seat belts?
It is a proven fact that seat belts offer good protection in accidents
⇒fig. 124 . 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. 124 . 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 146.
It is important that you pay attention to safety measures, particularly when
transporting children in the vehicle ⇒page 164, “Transporting children
safely”.
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 148, “Fastening a three-point seat belt”.
•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.
Note
Please comply with any differing legal requirements when using the seat
belts.
Fig. 124 Driver
wearing seat belt

Seat belts147
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
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.
•It is important that the belt webb ing is properly routed if the seat
belts are to offer their maximum protection ⇒page 148, “How are
seat belts correctly fastened?”.
•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 141, “Correct seated
position”.
•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 and the risk of injury increases.
•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 203, “Seat belts”.
•The slot of the belt tongue must not be blocked by paper or
similar objects otherwise the belt tongue will not lock in place prop-
erly.
•Inspect the seat belts regularly to ensure they are in good condi-
tion. If you find seat belts which have damage to the seat belt
webbing, seat belt connections, to the inertia reels or to the lock,
the relevant safety belt must be replaced by a Škoda dealer.
•You must not remove or change the seat belts. Do not make an
attempt to repair the seat belts yourself.
•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.
WARNING (continued)

Seat belts
150
– Press the red button in the belt lock ⇒fig. 130. The spring
force causes the tongue of the lock to jump out.
– Guide the belt back with your hand to enable the inertia reel to wind up the belt webbing more easily.
A plastic knob in the belt webbing holds the belt tongue in a position which
is easy to get hold of.
Three-point safety belt for the middle rear seat
Your car is equipped as standard with the three-point seat belt in the
middle rear seat. It is used in the same way as the three-point seat belts
on the left and right (at front and rear). The three-point seat belt for the rear
middle seat must be put on first to allow the pelvic part of the belt to run
between the belt lock for the right three-point seat belt and the backrest,
while avoiding crossing the belt webbing of the right and middle seat belts.
WARNING
The three-point safety belt for the rear middle seat can only fulfil its
function reliably when the backrests are correctly locked into posi-
tion ⇒page 82.
Blocking seat belts
The three-point seat belts for the front passenger and for the rear seats
can be blocked for attaching a child safety seat ⇒page 171, “Attaching
child safety seat”. Blocking the belt in this way ensures that the child seat
is held firmly in position in the car.
WARNING
Never attach a child safety seat on the front passenger seat if the
child is seated with its back facing in direction of travel when the
front passenger airbag is still activated ⇒page 166, “Use of child
safety seats on the front passenger seat”. Risk of severe or even
fatal injuries!
Belt tensioners
Safety for the driver and occupants wearing their seat belts, is enhanced
by the belt tensioners fitted to the inertia reels of the front and rear side
three-point seat belts, in addition to the protection afforded by the airbag
system.
The fastened three-point seat belts are automatically tensioned in the
event of a frontal collision of a certain severity. The rear outside belt
tensioners are also deployed if the seat belt is not fastened.
The belt tensioner is deployed in the event of a frontal collision of major
severity. A powder charge is ignited in the inertia reels during deployment.
The belt webbing is pulled into the inertia reels by a mechanical system
and the belt is tensioned.
Belt tensioners are not activated in the event of minor frontal collisions,
side and rear-end collisions, in the case of a rollover and also not in acci-
dents in which no major forces are produced from the front.
WARNING
•The service life of seat belts and belt tensioners is 15 years from
the date of manufacture of the vehicle. It is then necessary to have
the seat belts replaced by a Škoda dealer.

Airbag system
156
Important safety informat ion regarding the front
airbag system
Correct use of the airbag system considerably reduces the
risk of injury!
WARNING
•Never transport children on the front seat of a vehicle without
using a proper restraint system. If airbags are deployed in the event
of an accident, the child might suff er severe or even fatal injuries!
•For the driver and front passenger it is important to maintain a
distance of at least 25 cm from the steering wheel or dash panel
⇒ fig. 134 . Not maintaining this minimu m distance will mean that
the airbag system will not be able to properly protect you - hazard!
The front seats and the head restraints must always also be
correctly adjusted to match the body size of the occupant.
•It is essential to always switch off ⇒page 161, “Deactivating an
airbag” the front passenger airbag when attaching a child safety seat on the front passenger seat where the child is seated with its
back facing in direction of travel (in some countries also when the
child is facing the direction of travel). If this is not done, there is a
risk of the child suffering severe or
even fatal injuries if the front
passenger airbag is deployed. In certain countries national legal
provisions also require that the side or head passenger airbags be
deactivated. When transporting a child on the front passenger seat,
please comply with the appropriat e national regulations regarding
the use of child safety seats.
•There must not by any further persons, animals or objects posi-
tioned between the front seated occupants and the deployment
area of the airbag.
•The steering wheel and the surface of the airbag module in the
dash panel on the passenger side must not be stuck onto, covered
or modified in any other way. These parts should only be cleaned
with a dry cloth or a cloth moistened with water. No objects such
as cup holders, mobile phone mounts, etc. may be attached to the
covers of the airbag modules or be located within the immediate
area.
•No modifications of any kind may be made to parts of the airbag
system. Any work on the airbag system including installing and
removing system components because of other repair work (e.g.
removing the steering wheel) must only be carried out by a Škoda
dealer.
•Never carry out changes on the front bumper or on the body.
•Never place any objects on the surface of the front passenger
airbag in the dash panel.
Fig. 134 Safe distance
to steering wheel
WARNING (continued)

Airbag system
158
In certain accident situations both the front airbags as well as the head
and side airbags may be deployed together.
If an airbag is deployed, the airbag is filled with propellant gas. The
airbags inflate in fractions of a second and at a high speed in order to be
able to offer that additional protection in the event of an accident.
A grey white, non harmful gas is released when airbag is inflated. This is
perfectly normal and is not an indication of a fire in the vehicle.
The load of the occupants is cushioned when plunging into the fully
inflated airbag and the risk of injury to the entire upper body (chest,
stomach and pelvis) is reduced on the side facing the door.
Important safety information on the side airbag
Correct use of the airbag system considerably reduces the
risk of injury!
WARNING
•It is essential to always switch off ⇒page 161, “Deactivating an
airbag” the front passenger airbag when attaching a child safety
seat on the front passenger seat where the child is seated with its
back facing in direction of travel (in some countries also when the
child is facing the direction of travel). If this is not done, there is a
risk of the child suffering severe or even fatal injuries if the front
passenger airbag is deployed. In certain countries national legal
provisions also require that the side or head passenger airbags be
deactivated. When transporting a child on the front passenger seat,
please comply with the appropriate national regulations regarding
the use of child safety seats.
•Your head should never be positioned in the deployment area of
the side airbag. You might suffer severe injuries in the event of an accident. This applies in particular to children who are transported
without using a suitable child safety seat
⇒page 167, “Child safety
and side airbags”.
•If children adopt an incorrect seated position when travelling,
they may be exposed to an increased risk of injury in the event of
an accident. This can result in serious injuries ⇒page 164, “What
you should know about transporting children!”.
•There must not be any further persons, animals as well as
objects positioned between the occupants and the deployment
area of the airbag. There must also be no accessories such as cup
holders, attached to the doors to enable the side airbags to activate
properly.
•Only hang light items of clothing on the clothes hooks to the
vehicle. Never leave any heavy or sharp-edged objects in the
pockets of the items of clothing.
•Ensure that there are no excessive forces, such as violent
knocks, kicks etc., impact on the backrests of the seats otherwise
the system may be damaged. The side airbags would not be
deployed in such a case!
•Any seat or protective covers which you fit to the driver or front
passenger seats must only be of the type expressly authorized by
Škoda Auto. In view of the fact that the airbag inflates out of the
backrest of the seat, use of non-approved seat or protective covers
would considerably impair the protective function of the side
airbag.
•Any damage to the original seat covers in the area of the side
airbag module must be repaired without delay by your Škoda
dealer.
•The airbag modules in the front seats must not display any
damage, cracks or deep scratches. It is not permissible to use force
in order to open the modules.
WARNING (continued)

Airbag system
160
Function of the head airbags
The risk of injury to the head and neck area is reduced in
the event of a side collision by fully inflated head airbags.
In the case of a side collision the head airbag is deployed together with
the side airbag on the side of the car on which the accident occurs
⇒ fig. 138 .
If the head airbag is deployed, the airbag is filled with propellant gas and
extends over the entire area of the side window including the door pillars
⇒ fig. 138 . The protection offered by the head airbags is thus available
simultaneously both to the front occupants of the car seated on the side
on which the accident occurs, as well as to the rear occupants. Any impact
of the head against parts of the interior or objects outside of the car, is
cushioned by the inflated head airbag. The reduction in any impact to the
head and the resultant minimizing of any movements of the head addition-
ally reduce the risk of injuries to the neck area. The head airbag also offers
additional protection in the case of an offset impact by covering the front
door pillar. In certain accident situations both the front airbags as well as the side and
head airbags may be deployed together.
The airbags inflate in fractions of a second and at a high speed in order to
be able to offer that additional protection in the event of an accident. A
grey white, non harmful gas is released when airbag is inflated. This is
perfectly normal and is not an indication of a fire in the vehicle.
Important safety informati
on on the head airbag
Correct use of the airbag system considerably reduces the
risk of injury!
WARNING
•It is essential to always switch off ⇒ page 161, “Deactivating an
airbag” the front passenger airbag when attaching a child safety
seat on the front passenger seat where the child is seated with its
back facing in direction of travel (in some countries also when the
child is facing the direction of travel). If this is not done, there is a
risk of the child suffering severe or even fatal injuries if the front
passenger airbag is deployed. In certain countries national legal
provisions also require that the side or head passenger airbags be
deactivated. When transporting a child on the front passenger seat,
please comply with the appropriat e national regulations regarding
the use of child safety seats.
•There must not be any objects in the deployment area of the
head airbags which might prevent the airbags from inflating prop-
erly.
•Only hang light items of clothing on the clothes hooks to the
vehicle. Never leave any heavy or sharp-edged objects in the
pockets of the items of clothing. In addition, it is not permitted to
use clothes hangers for hanging up items of clothing.
Fig. 138 Inflated head
airbag

Airbag system161
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
•There must not be any other persons (e.g. children) or animals
between the car occupant and the deployment area of the head
airbag. In addition, none of the occupants should lean their head
out of the window when driving, or extend their arms and hands out
of the window.
•The sun visors must not be swivelled to the side windows into
the deployment area of the head airbags if any objects, such as
ball-point pens etc. are attached to them. This might result in inju-
ries to the occupants if the head airbag is deployed.
•Installing impermissible accessories in the area of the head
airbags may considerably impair the protection offered by the head
airbag in the event of it being deployed. When the deployed head
airbag is inflated, parts of the accessories fitted may in certain
circumstances be thrown into the interior of the car and cause inju-
ries to the occupants ⇒ page 233, “Accessories, changes and
replacement of parts”.
•Any work on the head airbag system including installing and
removing system components because of other repair work (e.g.
removing headliner) must only be carried out by a Škoda dealer.
Deactivating an airbag
Deactivating airbags
If any airbags have been deactivated, switch them on
again as soon as possible so that they are able to again
provide their proper protection.
There is the technical means installed within your vehicle to switch off the
front, side or head airbag (take out of commission).
This is why you should have the deactivation of the airbags carried out by
a Škoda dealer.
On vehicles equipped with the switch for deactivation of the airbags, you
can deactivate the front and side passenger airbag by means of this
switch ⇒page 162.
Deactivation of airbags is envisaged only for particular instances,
such as if
•Yo u m u s t i n exceptional cases use a child seat on the front
passenger seat where the child is seated with its back to the direction of
travel (in some countries this must be in the direction of travel due to other
legal regulations applying) ⇒page 164, “Important safety information on
using child safety seats”.
•you are not able to maintain the distance of at least 25 cm between
middle of steering wheel and chest, despite the driver seat being correctly
adjusted.
•special attachments are required in the area of the steering wheel
because of a physical disability.
•you have installed other seats (e.g. orthopaedic seats without side
airbags).
WARNING (continued)