2008 AUDI A4 main

Safe driving187
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
Before every trip
The driver is responsible for the safety of the passengers
and the safe operation of the vehicle at all times.For your own safety and the safety of your passengers,
always note the following points before every trip:
– Make sure that all lights and turn signals are working
properly.
– Check the tyre pressures.
– Make sure that all windows are clean and give good visi-
bility to the outside.
– Secure all luggage and other items carefully ⇒page 79.
– Make sure that no objects can interfere with the pedals.
– Adjust the front seat, head restraint and mirrors
correctly.
– Make sure that the head restraints for all passengers are
adjusted to the correct position.
– Make sure that children are protected with suitable
safety seats and properly worn seat belts ⇒page 210.
– Sit in the correct position in your seat and make sure that
your passengers do the same. ⇒page 73.
– Fasten your seat belt correctly. Make sure that your
passengers do the same ⇒page 194.
What affects driving safety?
Safety on the road is directly related to how you drive, and
can also be affected by the passengers in the vehicle.The driver is responsible for the safety of the vehicle and all
its occupants. If your ability to drive is impaired in any way,
you endanger yourself and other road users ⇒. There-
fore:
– Do not let yourself be distracted by passengers or by
using a mobile phone, etc.
– Never drive when your driving ability is impaired (by
medication, alcohol, drugs, etc.).
– Obey all traffic regulations and speed limits and always
maintain a safe distance to the vehicle in front.
– Always adjust your speed to suit the road, traffic and
weather conditions.
– Take frequent breaks on long trips. Do not drive for more
than two hours without a stop.
– If possible, avoid driving when you are tired or stressed.
WARNING
•
Distractions while driving or any kind of impairment to your
driving ability increase the risk of accident and injury.
•
Do not store loose objects on the dashboard. These objects
could fly around the interior when the vehicle is moving (under
acceleration or whilst cornering) and distract the driver – this
could lead to an accident.
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Safe driving 188Correct sitting positionsCorrect sitting position for driver
The correct driving position is important for safe and
fatigue-free driving.For your own safety, and to reduce the risk of injury in the
event of an accident, we recommend the following driving
position.
– Adjust the steering wheel so there is a distance of at least
25 cm between the steering wheel and your breastbone
⇒fig. 199.– Move the driver's seat forwards or backwards so that you
can press the accelerator, brake and clutch pedals all the
way to the floor with your knees slightly bent ⇒.
– Make sure that you can comfortably reach the top of the
steering wheel.
– Adjust the head restraint so that the top of the head
restraint is level with the top of your head ⇒fig. 200.
– Adjust the backrest to an upright position so that your
back remains in contact with the upholstery.
– Fasten your seat belt correctly ⇒page 194.
– Keep both feet in the footwell so that you are in full
control of the vehicle at all times.
For detailed information on how to adjust the driver's seat, see
⇒page 73, “Seats and storage”.
WARNING
•
A driver who is not sitting in the correct position or who is not
wearing a seat belt can be fatally injured if the airbag is triggered.
•
Adjust the driver's seat so there is a distance of at least 25 cm
between your breastbone and the centre of the steering wheel
⇒fig. 199.
•
While driving, always hold the steering wheel with both hands
on the outside of the rim at about the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock posi-
tion. This reduces the risk of injury if the driver's airbag inflates.
•
Never hold the steering wheel at the 12 o'clock position, or
with your hands inside the rim or on the steering wheel hub. This
could result in serious injuries to the arms, hands and head if the
driver's airbag inflates.
•
To reduce any risk of injury to the driver during a sudden brake
application or in an accident, never drive with the backrest tilted
Fig. 199 Minimum
distance between
driver and steering
wheelFig. 200 Correct head
restraint position for
the driver
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Safe driving189
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data too far back. The airbag system and seat belts can only provide
proper protection when the backrest is in an upright position and
the driver is wearing the seat belt in the correct position. The
further the backrest is tilted back, the greater the risk of injury due
to incorrect positioning of the belt webbing or an incorrect sitting
position.
•
Adjust the head restraint properly so that it can give maximum
protection.
Correct sitting position for front passenger
The front seat passenger must sit at least 25 cm away
from the dash panel so that the airbag has enough room
to inflate and give maximum protection in an accident.For your own safety and to reduce the risk of injury in the
event of an accident, we recommend adjusting the front
passenger's seat as follows:
– Move the front passenger's seat as far back as possible
⇒.
– Adjust the backrest to an upright position so that your
back remains in contact with the upholstery.
– Adjust the head restraint so that the top of the head
restraint is level with the top of your head ⇒page 190.
– Keep both feet in the footwell in front of the seat.
– Fasten your seat belt correctly ⇒page 197.In exceptional cases you can disable the front passenger's airbag
via the key-operated switch* ⇒page 208.
For detailed information on how to adjust the front passenger's
seat, see ⇒page 73, “Seats and storage”.
WARNING
A passenger who is not sitting in the correct position or who is not
wearing a seat belt can be fatally injured if the airbag is triggered.•
Adjust the front passenger's seat so there is a distance of at
least 25 cm between your breastbone and the dash panel.
•
Always keep your feet on the floor when the vehicle is moving;
never rest them on the instrument panel, out of the window or on
the seat. If you sit in an incorrect position, you increase your risk
of injury in the event of sudden braking or an accident. If the airbag
is triggered, you could sustain potentially fatal injuries by sitting
out of position.
•
To reduce the risk of injury to the front passenger in the case of
sudden braking or an accident, the passenger should never travel
in a moving vehicle with the backrest reclined. The airbag system
and seat belt can only provide proper protection when the back-
rest is in an upright position and the passenger is wearing the seat
belt in the correct position. The further the backrest is tilted back,
the greater the risk of injury due to incorrect positioning of the belt
webbing or an incorrect sitting position.
•
Always adjust the head restraints properly for maximum
protection.
Correct sitting position for passengers in the rear
Rear seat passengers should sit upright with both feet on
the floor and wear their seat belts properly whenever the
vehicle is moving.To reduce any risk of injury in the event of sudden braking
or an accident, passengers in the rear seats must observe
the following:
WARNING (continued)
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Safe driving191
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
Examples of incorrect sitting positions
Occupants can suffer severe or fatal injuries injuries if
they sit in an incorrect position while the vehicle is
moving.Seat belts can only provide maximum protection if the belt
webbing is positioned correctly. Sitting out of position
greatly reduces the effectiveness of the seat belts and
increases the risk of injury since the belt webbing is not
worn in the position for which it is designed. The driver is
responsible for the safety of all vehicle occupants, espe-
cially for children.
– Never allow anyone to sit out of position while the
vehicle is moving ⇒.The following list shows just some examples of incorrect sitting
positions which can be dangerous to all occupants. The list is not
complete, but will help to make you aware of possible dangers
which can be avoided.
Therefore, whenever the vehicle is moving:•
never stand up in the vehicle,
•
never stand on the seats,
•
never kneel on the seats,
•
never travel with the backrest reclined too far,
•
never lean against the dash panel,
•
never lie down on the rear seat,
•
never sit on the front edge of a seat,
•
never sit sideways,
•
never lean out of the window,
•
never put your feet out of the window,
•
never put your feet on the dash panel,
•
never put your feet on the seat cushion,
•
never ride in the footwell,
•
never travel on a seat without wearing the seat belt,
•
never climb into the luggage compartment.
WARNING
Sitting out of position increases the risk of severe injuries.•
Sitting out of position exposes the occupants to potentially
fatal injuries: if the airbags inflate they can strike any occupant
who is not in one of the designed seat positions.
•
Before starting a trip, sit in the correct position and stay in this
position as long as the vehicle is moving. Before every trip, make
sure all passengers are sitting in the correct positions and remain
correctly seated at all times ⇒page 73, “Seats and storage”.
Pedal are aPedal s
The pedals must always be free to move and must never
be obstructed by floor mats or any objects in the footwell.– Make sure that the accelerator, brake and clutch pedals
are not obstructed and can be pressed all the way down
to the floor.
– Make sure that all pedals are able to return freely to their
original positions.Only use floor mats which leave the pedal area free and can be
securely fastened in the footwell.
If one of the brake circuits should fail, increased brake pedal travel
will be required to bring the vehicle safely to a stop.
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Safe driving193
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data inside. In this case the child would be unable to get out of the
vehicle without help. This could have fatal consequences.
•
Never allow children to play in or around the vehicle. Always
close and lock the boot lid and all the doors when you leave the
vehicle.
•
Never let passengers ride in the luggage compartment. All
occupants must be properly restrained by the seat belts at all
times ⇒page 194.Note
•
Air circulation in the vehicle helps reduce fogging of the
windows. Used air escapes through ventilation slots in the rear of
the vehicle. Make sure that these ventilation slots are not
obstructed.
•
Suitable belts for securing loads to the fastening rings* are
commercially available.
Applies to vehicles: with fastening ringsFastening rings
Unsecured loads are a hazard to all vehicle occupants.There are fastening rings in the luggage compartment
which can be used to secure luggage and other objects
⇒page 79.
– Use the fastening rings to secure items safely in the
luggage compartment ⇒ in “Loading the luggage
compartment” on page 79.During a collision or an accident, even small and light objects can
possess so much energy that they can cause very severe injuries.
The amount of this “kinetic energy” depends on the speed of the vehicle and the weight of the object. The most significant factor,
however, is the speed of the vehicle.
An example: An object weighing 4.5 kg is lying unsecured in the
vehicle. During a frontal collision at a speed of 50 km/h, this object
generates a force corresponding to 20 times its weight. That means
that the effective weight of the object increases to about 90 kg. You
can imagine the severity of the injuries which might be sustained if
this “projectile” strikes an occupant as it flies through the
passenger compartment.
WARNING
If items of luggage or other objects are secured to the fastening
rings with inappropriate or damaged retaining cords, injuries
could result in the event of sudden braking or a collision.•
To prevent pieces of luggage or other objects from flying
forward, always use appropriate retaining cords which are prop-
erly secured to the fastening rings.
•
Never secure a child seat on the fastening rings.
WARNING (continued)
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Seat belts195
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
Important safety instructions for using seat belts
There are a number of safety points concerning the seat
belts which you should remember. This will help to reduce
the risk of injury in an accident.
WARNING
•
The seat belts can only provide maximum protection if the
seats are adjusted properly ⇒page 73, “Seats and storage”.
•
To ensure proper protection, it is important to wear the seat
belts in the correct position ⇒page 197, “How to wear seat belts
properly”. Ensure that the seat belts are worn exactly as recom-
mended in this chapter. Belts which are not worn properly can
increase the risk of injury in accidents considerably.
•
Do not allow the seat belt to become twisted or jammed, or to
rub on any sharp edges.
•
Never allow two passengers (even children) to share the same
seat belt. It is especially dangerous to place a seat belt over a child
sitting on your lap.
•
Do not wear the belt over hard or fragile objects (such as
glasses or pens, etc.) because this can cause injuries.
•
Loose, bulky clothing (such as an overcoat over a jacket)
impairs the proper fit and function of the belts.
•
The belts must be kept clean, otherwise the retractors may not
work properly ⇒page 250, “Seat belts”.
•
The slot in the seat belt buckle must not be blocked with paper
or other objects, as this can prevent the latch plate from engaging
properly.
•
The latch plate of the belt must always be engaged in the
correct buckle for that seat, otherwise the belt will not be fully
effective.
•
Check the condition of the seat belts at regular intervals. If you
notice that the belt webbing, fittings, retractor mechanism or buckle of any of the belts is damaged, the belt must be replaced
by a qualified workshop.
•
The seat belts must not be removed or modified in any way. Do
not attempt to repair a damaged belt yourself.
•
Seat belts which have been worn in an accident and stretched
must be replaced by a qualified workshop. The belt anchorages
should also be checked.
Forces acting in a collisionThe physical principles involved in a frontal impact
Very large forces are generated during a collision; these
forces have to be absorbed.
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 204 Passengers of
a vehicle which is
headed for a brick wall.
They are not using seat
belts.
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Seat belts197
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
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Technical data It is also important for the rear passengers to wear seat belts, as
they could otherwise be thrown forwards violently in an accident.
Rear passengers who do not use seat belts endanger not only them-
selves but also the other occupants ⇒page 196, fig. 207.
How to wear seat belts properlyPutting on the three-point seat belts
Always fasten your seat belts before driving off.– Adjust the front seat and head restraint correctly before
putting on the seat belt ⇒page 73, “Seats and storage”.– 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 ⇒fig. 209.
– Pull the belt to check that it is now securely fastened.
The three-point inertia reel belts are tensioned automatically. The
retractor system gives complete freedom of movement, as long as
the pull on the belt is slow. Hard braking locks the belt. The belt will
also lock when you accelerate, drive up or down a steep hill or in a
sharp curve.
WARNING
•
Always make certain that the belt is positioned properly
⇒fig. 208 – risk of injury ⇒page 197, “Adjusting the seat belts”.
•
The latch plate of the belt must always be engaged in the
correct buckle for that seat. Otherwise the belt will not be fully
effective and the danger of injury increases.
Adjusting the seat belts
Always position seat belts properly for maximum safety.
Fig. 208 Positioning of
head restraints and
seat beltsFig. 209 Driver's seat:
Belt buckle and latch
plate
Fig. 210 Adjusting
shoulder and lap belt
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Seat belts199
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
Applies to vehicles:Seat belt height adjustment
Seat belt height adjusters can be used to adjust the height
of the shoulder portion of the seat belt.– Take hold of the guide fitting and slide it up ⇒fig. 212 ,
or
–Compress the adjuster and slide the guide fitting
downwards .
– After adjusting, pull the shoulder belt sharply to check
that the catch on the guide fitting is engaged securely.
Note•
The shoulder portion of the seat belt must be positioned roughly
midway over the shoulder – it must never rest against the neck
⇒ in “Adjusting the seat belts” on page 197.
•
It is also possible to adjust the height of the front seats to obtain
the best position for the front seat belts.
Taking off the seat belts
The red button releases the belt from the buckle.– Press the red button in the seat belt buckle ⇒fig. 213.
The latch plate will spring out of the buckle.
– Guide the belt back by hand so that it is taken up by the
retractor.Belt tensionersHow the belt tensioners work
The seat belts for the driver and front passenger are
equipped with belt tensioners.The seat belts on the front seats are tensioned automatically in
frontal, side and rear-end impacts above a certain degree of
severity. This helps to reduce the forward motion of the occupants.
In a less severe accident, or in the event of a roll-over, the belt
tensioners are not activated.
Fig. 212 Belt height
adjustment for the
front seats: guide
fitting
A2
A1
A2
Fig. 213 The latch
plate of the belt
springs out of the
buckle
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