2008 AUDI A5 COUPE belt

Safe driving
164Correct 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 re commend 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. 173. – 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. 174.
– Adjust the backrest to an upright position so that your back remains in contact with the upholstery.
– Fasten your seat belt correctly ⇒page 170 .
– Keep both feet in the footwe ll 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 70, “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 th e centre of the steering wheel
⇒ fig. 173.
•
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, neve r drive with the backrest tilted
Fig. 173 Minimum
distance between
driver and steering
wheelFig. 174 Correct head
restraint position for
the driver
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Safe driving165
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too far back. The airbag system and seat belts can only provide
proper protection when the backre
st 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 positionin g 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 166 .
– Keep both feet in the footwell in front of the seat.
– Fasten your seat belt correctly ⇒page 173.In exceptional cases you can disable the front passenger's airbag
via the key-operated switch* ⇒page 183 .
For detailed information on how to adjust the front passenger's
seat, see ⇒page 70, “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 fl oor 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 brak ing or an accident. If the airbag
is triggered, you could sustain pote ntially 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, th e passenger should never travel
in a moving vehicle with the backrest reclined. The airbag system
and seat belt can only provide pr oper protection when the back-
rest is in an upright position and the passenger is wearing the seat
belt in the correct position. The fu rther 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 rest raints 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 driving
166
– Adjust the head restraint so that the top of the head restraint is level with the top of your head ⇒page 166 .
– Keep both feet in the footwell in front of the rear seat.
– Fasten your seat belt correctly ⇒page 173.
– Use appropriate child restraint systems for children trav- elling in the vehicle ⇒page 185 .
WARNING
Rear passengers sitting out of po sition can suffer severe injuries.•
Always adjust the head restraints properly for maximum
protection.
•
Seat belts only offer maximum protection when the backrest is
in an upright position and the pa ssengers are wearing the seat
belts properly. By not sitting uprigh t, rear passengers increase the
risk of injury due to incorrect positioning of the seat belt
webbing.
Correct adjustment of head restraints
Properly adjusted head restraints are an important part of
the vehicle's occupant protection system. They can help
to reduce the risk of injuries in most accident situations.
The head restraints must be adjusted properly to provide
maximum protection.
– Adjust the head restraint so that the top of the head
restraint is level with the top of your head ⇒fig. 175 and
⇒ fig. 176.For more information on how to adjust the head restraints, see
⇒page 76 .
WARNING
Travelling with the head rest raints removed or incorrectly
adjusted increases the risk of severe injuries.•
Incorrectly adjusted head restrain ts could lead to death in the
event of a collision or accident.
•
Incorrectly adjusted head restraints can also increase the risk
of injury during sudden or un expected braking or other manoeu-
vres.
•
The head restraints must always be adjusted according to the
occupant's size.
Fig. 175 Correctly
adjusted head restraint
(seen from the front)
Fig. 176 Correctly
adjusted head restraint
(seen from the side)
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Safe driving167
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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 correctl y. 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 with out 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 th e 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 70, “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 driving169
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inside. In this case the child wo
uld 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 170 .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 78 .
– Use the fastening rings to secure items safely in the luggage compartment ⇒ in “Loading the luggage
compartment” on page 77.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 obje
cts are secured to the fastening
rings with inappropriate or da maged 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 belts
170Seat beltsWhy is it so important to use seat
belts?Seat belts provide effective protection
The common belief that passengers can brace their
weight with their hands in a minor collision is false.It is an established fact that seat belts provide good protection in
accidents. Therefore wearing a seat belt is required by law in most
countries.
Properly worn seat belts hold the occupants in the best position for
maximum protection ⇒fig. 177. The seat belts are capable of
absorbing much of the kinetic energy arising in a collision. Also they
help to prevent uncontrolled movements which could lead to severe
injuries ⇒page 171, “Important safety instructions for using seat
belts”.
If they wear the seat belts correc tly, the passengers benefit greatly
from the ability of the belts to re duce the kinetic energy gradually.
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.
Although these examples are based on
a frontal collision, the phys-
ical principles involved are the same in other types of accidents and
for vehicles with an airbag system. This is why it is so important to
put on the seat belts before every trip – even when “just driving
around the corner”. Ensure that your passengers wear their seat
belts as well ⇒.
Properly worn seat belts have been shown to be an effective means
of reducing the potential for injury and improving the chances of
survival in a serious accident ⇒page 171, “Forces acting in a colli-
sion”.
For information on how children can travel safely in the car
⇒ page 185, “Points to remember if children are travelling in the
car”.
WARNING
•
Seat belts must be put on before ev ery trip – even when driving
in town. This also applies to th e rear passengers (injury risk).
•
During pregnancy, women should always ensure they wear a
seat belt. The best way to protect the unborn child is to protect the
mother ⇒page 174, “Wearing and adjusting the seat belts during
pregnancy”.
Fig. 177 Driver
protected by the prop-
erly worn seat belt
during a sudden brake
manoeuvre
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Seat belts171
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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 provi de maximum protection if the
seats are adjusted properly ⇒page 70, “Seats and storage”.
•
To ensure proper protection, it is important to wear the seat
belts in the co rrect position ⇒page 173, “How to wear seat belts
properly”. Ensure that the seat belts are worn exactly as recom-
mended in this chapter. Belts wh ich are not worn properly can
increase the risk of injury in accidents considerably.
•
Do not allow the seat belt to be come 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 dangerou s 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 an d function of the belts.
•
The belts must be kept clean, otherwise the retractors may not
work properly ⇒page 226, “Seat belts”.
•
The slot in the seat belt buckle must not be blocked with paper
or other objects, as this can prev ent the latch plate from engaging
properly.
•
The latch plate of the belt mu st always be engaged in the
correct buckle for that seat, ot herwise the belt will not be fully
effective.
•
Check the condition of the seat bel ts at regular intervals. If you
notice that the belt webbing, fi ttings, retractor mechanism or buckle of any of the belts is da
maged, the belt must be replaced
by a qualified workshop.
•
The seat belts must not be remov ed 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 generat ed during a collision; these
forces have to be absorbed.
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 178 Passengers of
a vehicle which is
headed for a brick wall.
They are not using seat
belts.
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Seat belts
172The physical principles involved in a frontal collision are relatively
simple:
Both the moving vehicle and the passengers possess energy, which
is known as “kinetic energy” ⇒ page 171, fig. 178. The amount of
“kinetic energy” depends on the speed of the vehicle and the weight
of the vehicle and passengers. The higher the speed and the greater
the weight, the more energy there is to be absorbed 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 these passengers are
not restrained by seat belts, the entire amount of kinetic energy has
to be absorbed at the point of impact ⇒fig. 179. This would result
in serious or potentially fatal injury.
Even at urban speeds of 30 km/h to 50 km/h, the forces acting on the
occupants in a collision can reach the equivalent of 1 ton (1000 kg)
or more. At greater speed these forces are even higher. A rule of
thumb: if the speed doubles, the forces increase by a factor of four.
Passengers who do not wear seat belts are not “attached” to the
vehicle. In a frontal collision they will continue to move forward at
the speed their car was travelling just before the impact.
What happens to passengers not wearing seat belts?
Passengers not wearing seat belts risk fatal injuries in the
event of an accident.In a frontal collision, unbelted passengers will be thrown forwards
and make violent contact with the steering wheel, dashboard, wind-
screen, etc ⇒ fig. 180. Passengers not wearing their belts risk being
thrown out of the car, resulting in potentially fatal injuries.
The common belief that occupants can brace their weight with their
hands in a minor collision is false. Even at low speeds the forces
acting on the body in a collision are so great that it is not possible
to hold yourself in the seat.
Fig. 179 The vehicle
crashes against the
wall
Fig. 180 A driver not
wearing a seat belt can
be thrown forwardsFig. 181 A rear
passenger not wearing
a seat belt can be
thrown forwards
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