Transporting children safely
148
•It is essential to always switch off ⇒page 144, “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 ch ild 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 requir e that the side or head passenger
airbags be deactivated. When transporting a child on the front passenger
seat, please comply with the appropri ate national regulations regarding the
use of child safety seats.
•If the front passenger airbag has been switched off by a specialist garage
using the vehicle system tester, the side and head passenger airbag*
remains switched on. In certain countries national legal provisions require
that besides the front passenger airbag also the side or head passenger
airbags are deactivated. Please comply with any differing national legal
regulations regarding the use of child safety seats.
•If a child safety seat in which the child faces in the direction of travel is
used on the front passenger seat, the front passenger seat must be moved
back fully. For vehicles with height adjustable front passenger seat, the seat
must be put in the highest position.
•You should have the front passenger ai rbag (or airbags) reactivated just
as soon as you no longer use a child sa fety seat on the front passenger seat.
Child safety and side airbag
Children must never be seated in the deployment area of the side
airbags and head airbags.
In the event of a side collision, the si de airbags offer the vehicle occupants
enhanced protection.
The side airbags are inflated in fractions of a second in order to be able to provide
this protection ⇒page 141, “Function of the side airbags”.
An airbag inflating develops such a strong force that an occupant who has not
adopted a correct seated position may suff er injuries. Also exposed objects which
are located within the area of th e side airbag can cause injuries.
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 155 Seated position
of an unprotected child at
risk from side airbag
Fig. 156 Child properly
protected by safety seat
NKO B5 20.book Page 148 Friday, March 2, 2007 1:46 PM
Transporting children safely149
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
This applies particularly to children if they are not transported in accordance
with legal requirements.
The child is protected when seated in a child safety seat matching its age. Adequate
room is available between the child and the
deployment area of the side airbag and
head airbag. The airbag offers optimal protection.
WARNING
•It is essential to always switch off ⇒page 144 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 certai n countries national legal provisions
also require that the side and head airbags be deactivated. When trans-
porting a child on the front passenger seat, please comply with the appro-
priate national regulations regarding the use of child safety seats.
•When transporting a child on the front passenger seat, please comply
with the appropriate national regulations regarding the use of child safety
seats.
•Children must never be seated with th eir head in the deployment area of
the side airbag - risk of injury!
•Do not place any objects within the deployment area of the side airbag -
risk of injury!
Child seat
Classification of ch ild seats into groups
Only child safety seats which have an official approval and are suit-
able for the child, may be used.
ECE-R 44 standard applies to child safety seats. ECE-R means: Economic Commis-
sion of Europe - Regulation. Child safety seats which have been tested for conformity with ECE-R 44 have a non-
detachable test seal (a large E within
a circle and below this the test number)
attached to the seat.
Child safety seats are classified in 5 groups:
Children of more than 150 cm in height may use the seat belts fitted to the vehicle
without a seat bolster.
Use of child safety seats
An overview of the usefulness of child seats on each of the seats according to the
EG guidelines 77/541 and ECE 44 standard:
Universal category - seat is suitable for all approved types of child safety seats.
The seat can be fitted with fixing eyes for the “ISOFIX *”system.
GroupWeight
00 - 10 kg⇒page 150
0+up to 13 kg⇒page 150
19 - 18 kg⇒page 150
215 - 25 kg⇒page 151
322 - 36 kg⇒page 151
Child seat
according to groupFront passenger seatRear seat
on the sideRear seat middle
0
0+
1
2 and 3
AUAUA+AU
AUAUA+AU
AUAUA+AU
AUAUAU
AU
A+
NKO B5 20.book Page 149 Friday, March 2, 2007 1:46 PM
Transporting children safely
150
Child seats of group 0/0+
The optimal solution for babi es of up to about 9 months old weighing up to 10 kg
or babies up to about 18 months old weighi ng up to 13 kg is a child safety seat
which can be adjusted into the reclining position ⇒fig. 157 .
In view of the fact that such child seats are installed that the child is seated with its
back facing the direction of travel, they must not be used on the front passenger
seat ⇒page 147, “Use of child safety seats on the front passenger seat”.
WARNING
•It is essential to always switch off the front passenger airbag (airbags) at
a specialist garage or with the switch for front passenger airbag(s)* when
attaching in exceptional circumstances 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)
⇒ page 144.
•In certain countries national legal provisions require that besides the
front airbag also the side or head ai rbags are deactivated. Please comply
with any differing national legal regula tions regarding the use of child safety
seats.
•If this is not done, a child seated on the front passenger seat may suffer
severe or even fatal injuries if the front passenger airbag or airbags are
deployed.
•You should have the front passenger airbag (or airbags) reactivated just
as soon as you no longer use a child sa fety seat on the front passenger seat.
Child safety seats in Group 1
Child seats in Group 1 are for babies and small children up to 4 years of age with a
weight of between 9 and 18 kilograms. It is best for children in the lower range of
this group, to use a child seat which allows the child to sit with its back to the direc-
tion of travel. It is best for children in the upper range of the Group 0+, to use a child
seat which allows the child to sit ⇒fig. 158 in the direction of travel.
Child safety seats in which the child is seated with its back facing the direction of
travel, must not be used on the front passenger seat ⇒page 147, “Use of child
safety seats on the front passenger seat”.
WARNING
•It is essential to always switch off the front passenger airbag (airbags) at
a specialist garage or with the switch for front passenger airbag(s)* when
attaching in exceptional circumstances a child safety seat on the front
passenger seat where the child is seated with its back facing in direction of
Fig. 157 Child seats of
group 0/0+
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 158 Child seat with
padded table in Group 1
installed on rear seat
bench facing the direc-
tion of travel
NKO B5 20.book Page 150 Friday, March 2, 2007 1:46 PM
Transporting children safely151
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
travel (in some countries also when the
child is facing the direction of travel)
⇒ page 144.
•In certain countries national legal provisions require that besides the
front airbag also the side or head ai rbags are deactivated. Please comply
with any differing national legal regula tions regarding the use of child safety
seats.
•If this is not done, a child seated on the front passenger seat may suffer
severe or even fatal injuries if the front passenger airbag or airbags are
deployed.
•You should have the front passenger airbag (or airbags) reactivated just
as soon as you no longer use a child sa fety seat on the front passenger seat.
Child safety seats in Group 2
For children up to about 7 years of age weighing between 15 and 25 kg the optimal
solution is a child safety seat in comb ination with the three-point seat belt
⇒ fig. 159 .
WARNING
•When transporting a child on the fr ont passenger seat, please comply
with the appropriate national regulati ons regarding the use of child safety
seats. Switch off the front passenger airb ag if necessary at a specialist garage
or switch it off with the switch for front passenger airbag* ⇒page 144.
•The shoulder part of the seat belt must run approximately across the
middle of the shoulder and fit snugly agai nst the chest. It must on no account
run across the neck. The lap part of the seat belt must run across the pelvis
and fits snugly; it must not run over the belly. Tighten the belt webbing over
your hip if necessary.
•Please comply with any differing nati onal legal regulations regarding the
use of child safety seats.
Child safety seats in Group 3
For children of about 7 years of age weighing between 22 and 36 kg and of a height
of less than 150 cm, the optimal solution is a child safety seat (seat bolster) in
combination with the three-point seat belt ⇒fig. 160 .
Children of more than 150 cm in height may use the seat belts fitted to the vehicle
without a seat bolster.
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 159 Child seat in
Group 2 installed on the
rear seat facing the direc-
tion of travelFig. 160 Child seat in
Group 3 installed on the
rear seat facing the direc-
tion of travel
NKO B5 20.book Page 151 Friday, March 2, 2007 1:46 PM
Transporting children safely
152
WARNING
•When transporting a child on the fr ont passenger seat, please comply
with the appropriate national regulations regarding the use of child safety
seats. Switch off the front passenger airbag if necess ary at a specialist garage
or switch it off with the switch for front passenger airbag* ⇒page 144.
•The shoulder part of the seat belt must run approximately across the
middle of the shoulder and fit snugly agai nst the chest. It must on no account
run across the neck. The lap part of the seat belt must run across the pelvis
and fits snugly; it must not run over th e belly. Tighten the belt webbing over
your hip if necessary.
•Please comply with any differing nati onal legal regulations regarding the
use of child safety seats.
Attaching child safety seat
Child seat protection
You can block the three-point seat belt in order to attach a child
safety seat.
You can permanently block the three-poin t seat belt in order to attach a
child safety seat. Blocking the belt in this way ensures that the child seat
is held firmly in position in the car.
Activating child seat protection
– Attach the child safety seat with the three-point seat belt as stated in the instructions of the manufacturer of the child seat.
– Now, pull the shoulder part of the belt out fully.
– Insert the tongue of the lock into the seat belt buckle belonging to the seat until it is heard to lock in place.
– Reel up the belt webbing until it is fitted snugly against the child seat. When the belt is reeled up, this can be detected by a “clicking” noise. – Pull on the belt in order to check that it is no longer possible to pull out
the webbing. The child seat protection is now switched on.
Deactivating child seat protection
– Press the red button on the seat belt buckle. The tongue of the lock jumps out of the buckle as a result of the spring force when this is
done.
– Guide the belt back with your hand to enable the inertia reel to wind up the belt webbing more easily. Th e child safety lock is deactivated
after the full reeling up of the belt.
WARNING
It is essential to always switch off ⇒page 144 the airbag (airbags) when
attaching a child safety seat on the fr ont 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 and head airbags be deactivated. When transporting a child on the
front passenger seat, please comply wi th the appropriate national regula-
tions regarding the use of child safety seats.
NKO B5 20.book Page 152 Friday, March 2, 2007 1:46 PM