2005 Seat Altea Safe

Seat belts19
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
Seat belts IntroductionAlways fasten seat belts before driving!
Properly worn seat belts can save lives!In this chapter you will learn why seat belts are so important, how
they work and how to properly fasten, adjust and wear them.
– Read and observe all the information as well as the warnings in
this chapter.
WARNING
•
If the seat belts are worn incorrectly or not at all, the risk of severe inju-
ries increases.
•
Properly worn seat belts can reduce severe injuries in the event of
sudden braking manoeuvres or accidents. Therefore, you and your passen-
gers should always wear the seat belts properly as long as the vehicle is in
motion.
•
Pregnant women or persons with physical disabilities must also use
seat belts. Like all other occupants, these persons can also sustain severe
injuries if they are not wearing their seat belts properly.
Number of seatsYour vehicle has five passenger places, two individual front seats and three
places on the rear seat. Each seat is equipped with a three-point seat belt.
WARNING
•
Never transport more people than there are seats available in the
vehicle.
•
Every occupant in the vehicle must properly fasten and wear the seat
belt belonging to his or her seat. Chil dren must be protected with an appro-
priate child restraint system.
Seat belt warning lamp *

The warning lamp acts as a reminder to the driver to fasten
the seat belt.Before you drive:
– Always fasten your seat belt correctly before driving off.
– Instruct your passengers to fasten their seat belts properly before driving off.
– Protect your children with child restraint systems appropriate for the size and age of the children.
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Seat belts21
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
Why wear seat belts?Frontal collisions and the laws of physics
In the event of a frontal collision, a large amount of kinetic
energy must be released.
The action of the laws of physics in the case of a frontal collision may be
explained in the following way: As the vehicle moves ⇒fig. 7 the vehicle and
the passengers alike accumulate a stored energy called “kinetic energy”.
The amount of “kinetic energy” depends on the speed of the vehicle and the
weight of the vehicle an d passengers. The higher the speed and the greater
the weight, the more energy there is to be “released” in an accident.
The most significant factor, however, is the speed of the vehicle. If the speed
doubles from 25 km/h to 50 km/h, for example, the kinetic energy increases
by a factor of four.
Because the passengers in our example are not restrained by seat belts, the
entire amount of kinetic energy has to be absorbed at the point of impact
⇒ fig. 8 .
Even at speeds of 30 km/h to 50 km/h, the forces acting on bodies in a colli-
sion can easily exceed one tonne (1,000 kg). At greater speed these forces
are even higher.
Passengers not wearing seat belts are not “attached” to the vehicle. In a
frontal collision they will continue to move forward at the speed their vehicle
Fig. 7 Passengers of a
vehicle heading for a brick
wall. They are not wearing
seat belts.
Fig. 8 The vehicle with
unbelted occupants
strikes the wall.
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Seat belts23
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
Seat belts protect
Passengers not wearing seat belts risk severe injuries in the
event of an accident.Properly worn seat belts hold the vehicle occupants in the correct sitting posi-
tions and substantially reduce the kinetic energy in the event of an accident.
Seat belts also help to prevent uncont rolled movements which could lead to
severe injuries. In addition, properly worn seat belts reduce the danger of
being thrown from the car.
Passengers wearing their s eat belts correctly benefit greatly from the ability
of the belts to absorb kinetic energy. The front crumple zones and other
passive safety features (such as the airbag system) are also designed to
absorb the kinetic energy generated in a collision. Taken together, all these
features reduce the forces acting on the occupants and consequently the risk
of injury.
Our examples describe frontal collisions . Of course, properly worn seat belts
reduce substantially the risk of injury in all other types of accidents. This is why it is so important to fasten seat
belts before every trip, even when "just
driving around the corner".
Ensure that your passengers wear their seat belts as well. Accident statistics
have shown properly worn seat belts to be an effective means of substantially
reducing the risk of injury and improvi ng the chances of survival in a serious
accident. Further, properly worn seat belts improve the protection provided
by airbags in the event of an accident. For this reason, wearing a seat belt is
required by law in most countries.
Although your vehicle is equipped with airbags, the seat belts must be
fastened and worn. The front airbags, for example, are only triggered in some
frontal accidents. The front airbags will not be triggered during minor frontal
collisions, minor side collisions, rear collisions, rolls or accidents in which the
airbag trigger threshold in the control unit is not exceeded.
Therefore, you should always wear your seat belt and ensure that your
passengers have fastened their seat belts properly before you drive off!
Safety notes on using seat belts
If seat belts are used correctly, they can reduce the risk of
injury in an accident.– Always wear the seat belt as described in this booklet.
– Ensure that the seat belts can be fastened at all times and are not damaged.
WARNING
•
If the seat belts are worn incorrectly or not at all, the risk of severe inju-
ries increases. The optimal protection from seat belts can be achieved only
if you use them properly.
Fig. 11 Driver protected
by the properly worn seat
belt during a sudden
braking manoeuvre.
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Seat belts25
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
– Adjust the seat and head restraint correctly.
– To fasten the belt, take hold of the latch plate and pull it slowly
across your chest and lap.
– Insert the latch plate into the buckle for the appropriate seat and push it down until it is securely locked with an audible click
⇒page 24, fig. 12.
– Pull the belt to ensure that the latch plate is securely engaged in the buckle.The seat belts are equipped with an automatic retractor on the shoulder
strap. Full freedom of movement is permitted when the shoulder belt is pulled
slowly. However, during sudden braking, during travel in mountains or bends
and during acceleration, the automati c retractor on the shoulder belt is
locked.
The automatic belt retractors on the front seats are fitted with belt tension
devices ⇒page 28.
WARNING
•
An incorrectly worn seat belt web can cause severe injuries in the event
of an accident.
•
The seat belts offer best protection only when the backrests are in an
upright position and the seat belt s have been fastened properly.
•
Never put the latch plate in the buckle of another seat. If you do this, the
seat belt will not protect you properly and the risk of injury is increased.
•
If an occupant is incorrectly belted in, the belt cannot protect him or her
properly. An incorrectly positioned belt web can cause extremely severe
injuries.
•
Always engage the retractor lock when you are securing a child seat in
group 0, 0+ or 1 ⇒ page 46.
Seat belt position
Seat belts offer their maximum pr otection only when they are
properly positioned.
Fig. 13 Correct belt web
and head restraint posi-
tions, viewed from frontFig. 14 Correct belt web
and head restraint posi-
tions, viewed from side
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Seat belts27
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
WARNING
•
An incorrectly worn seat belt web can cause severe injuries in the event
of an accident.
•
For pregnant women, the lap part of the seat belt must lie as low as
possible over the pelvis, never across the stomach, and always lie flat so
that no pressure is exerted on the abdomen.
•
Read and observe the warnings ⇒page 23.
Seat belt release
The seat belt must not be unfastened until the vehicle has
come to a standstill.– Press the red button on the belt buckle ⇒fig. 16. The latch plate
is released and springs out ⇒ . – Guide the belt back by hand so that it rolls up easily and the trim
is not damaged
WARNING
Never unbuckle a seat belt while the vehicle is in motion. If you do, you
increase the risk of sustaining severe or fatal injuries.Adjusting the seat belt height
Seat belt height adjusters can be used to adjust the position
of the seat belt at the shoulder.The seat belt adjuster for the front seats can be used to adjust the
proper belt position at the shoulder.
Fig. 16 Removing latch
plate from buckle
Fig. 17 Location of the
belt height adjuster
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Seat belts
28
– Press the upper part of the shoulder belt guide and hold it in this position ⇒page 27, fig. 17.
– Move the shoulder belt guide up or down until you have adjusted the seat belt ⇒page 25.
– After adjusting, pull the shoulder belt sharply to check that the catch on the shoulder belt guide is engaged securely.Incorrectly fastened seat belts
Incorrectly worn seat belts can cause severe injuries.Seat belts can provide optimal protection only if the belt web is
properly worn. The seat belts must be fastened exactly in the order
described in this chapter. An incorrect sitting position impairs
substantially the protection a seat belt offers and can lead to severe
or fatal injuries. The risk of severe or fatal injuries is especially
increased when a deploying airbag strikes an occupant who has
assumed an incorrect sitting position . As driver, you are responsible
for all vehicle occupants, especially children. Therefore:
– Never permit anyone to assume an incorrect sitting position in the vehicle while travelling ⇒.
WARNING
•
An incorrectly worn seat belt incr eases the risk of severe injuries.
•
Before every trip, instruct your passengers to adjust their seat belts
properly and to wear them during the trip.
•
Read and always observe information and warnings concerning the use
of seat belts ⇒ page 23.
Belt tension devicesFunction of the belt tension device
During a frontal collision, the se at belts on the front seats are
tensioned automatically.The seat belts for the front occupants are equipped with belt tension devices.
Sensors will trigger the belt tension devices during severe head-on, lateral
and rear collisions only if the seat belt is being worn. This retracts and
tightens the seat belts, reducing the forward motion of the occupants.
The belt tension device ca n be triggered only once.
The belt tension devices will not be triggered in the event of a light frontal,
side or rear collision, if the vehicle overturns, or in situations where no large
forces act on the front, side or rear of the vehicle.
Note
•
If the belt tension devices are triggered, a fine dust is produced. This is
normal and is no indication that there was a fire in the vehicle.
•
The relevant safety requirements must be observed when the vehicle or
components of the system are scrapped. A qualified workshop is familiar with
these regulations and will be pleased to pass on the information to you.
Service and disposal of belt tension devicesThe belt tension devices are components of the seat belts that are installed
in the seats of your vehicle. If you work on the belt tension devices or remove
and install parts of the system when performing other repair work, the seat
belt may be damaged. The consequence may be that, in the event of an acci-
dent, the belt tension devices function incorrectly or not at all.
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Seat belts29
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
So that the effectiveness of the belt tension device is not reduced and that
removed parts do not cause
any injuries or environmental pollution, regula-
tions, which are known to the qualifi ed workshops, must be observed.
WARNING
•
If repairs are not carried out by a professional, or if the belt tension
devices are used incorrectly, the risk of severe or fatal injuries increases.
The belt tension devices may fail to trigger or may trigger in the wrong
circumstances.
•
Never attempt to repair, adjust, remove or install parts of the belt
tension devices or seat belts.
•
The belt tension device and seat be lt including its automatic retractor
cannot be repaired.
•
Any work on the belt tension devi ces and seat belts, including the
removal and refitting of system parts in conjunction with other repair work,
must be performed by a qualified workshop only.
•
The belt tension devices will only provide protection for one accident
and must be changed it they have been activated.
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Airbag system
30Airbag systemBrief introductionWhy wear a seat belt and assume the correct sitting position?
For the inflating airbags to achieve the best protection, the
sea t b el t m u st al w ay s b e w o rn p ro p e rly a nd t h e co rrec t s i tt i n g
position must be assumed.For your own safety and the safety of the passengers, please ensure
the following before you drive:
– Always wear the seat belt properly ⇒page 19.
– Adjust the driver seat and the steering wheel correctly ⇒page 10.
– Adjust the front passenger seat correctly ⇒page 11.
– Adjust the head restraint seat correctly ⇒page 13.
– Use the correct child restraint system to protect children in your vehicle ⇒page 46.The airbag deploys in fractions of a second and with a high velocity. If you
have assumed an incorrect seating po sition at that moment, you could
sustain critical injuries. Therefore, it is essential that all occupants maintain
a correct sitting position while travelling.
Braking heavily the moment before an accident may cause an occupant not
wearing a seat belt to be thrown forwar d into the area of the deploying airbag. In this case, the inflating airbag may infl
ict critical or fatal injuries upon the
occupant. This applies particularly to children.
Always maintain the greatest possible distance between yourself and the
front airbag. This way, the front airbags can completely deploy when trig-
gered, providing their maximum protection.
The most important factors for triggering the airbag are the type of accident,
the angle of impact and the vehicle speed.
Whether the airbags are triggered depends primarily on the vehicle deceler-
ation rate resulting from the collision an d detected by the control unit. If the
vehicle deceleration occurring duri ng the collision and measured by the
control unit remains below the specifie d reference values, the front, side
and/or curtain airbag will not be triggered. Take into account that the visible
damage in a vehicle following an accident, for whatever reason, are not an
indication as to why the airbags were triggered.
WARNING
•
Wearing the seat belt incorrectly or assuming an incorrect sitting posi-
tion can lead to critical or fatal injuries.
•
All occupants, including children, who are not properly belted can
sustain critical or fatal injuries if the airbag is triggered. You should always
transport all children up to 12 years of age on the rear seat. Never transport
children in the vehicle if they are not restrained or the restraint system is
not appropriate for their weight.
•
If you are not wearing a seat belt or if you lean forward or to the side or
assume an incorrect sitting position, the risk of injury is increased
substantially. This increased risk of injury will be further increased if you
are struck by an inflating airbag.
•
To reduce the risk of injury from an inflating airbag, always wear the
seat belt properly ⇒ page 19.
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