Airbag system29
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
Airbag 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 a l w ay s be w o rn p ro p e rly a n d t h e co rrec t s i tt i ng
position must be assumed.For your own safety and the safety of the passengers, please ensure
the following before driving:
– Always wear the seat belt properly ⇒page 19.
– Adjust the driver's seat and the steering wheel correctly ⇒page 10.
– Adjust the front passenger seat correctly ⇒page 11.
– Adjust the head restraint correctly ⇒page 13.
– Use the correct child restraint system to protect children in your vehicle ⇒ page 45.The airbag is deployed at high speed in fractions of a second. If you have an
incorrect seating position at the time the airbag is deployed, it could cause
you critical injuries. Therefore, it is essential that all passengers in the vehicle
assume a correct sitting position while travelling.
A sharp braking before an accident may cause a passenger not wearing a seat
belt to be thrown forward into the area of the deploying airbag. In this case, the inflating airbag may inflict critical or fatal injuries on the occupant. This
also applies to children.
Always maintain the greatest possible distance between yourself and the
front airbag. This way, the front airbag
s can completely deploy when trig-
gered, providing their maximum protection.
The most important factors that will trigger an airbag are: the type of acci-
dent, the angle of collision and the s peed of the vehicle.
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 during 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 involved in an ac cident, for whatever reason, is not an
indication as to why the airbags had been 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 age, size or weight.
•
If you are not wearing a seat belt, if you lean forward or to the side while
travelling or assume an incorrect sitt ing position, there is a substantially
increased risk of injury. 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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Airbag system
36Safety notes on the frontal airbag system
If you use airbags correctly, they can considerably reduce the
risk of injury in many kinds of accident.
WARNING
•
It is important for the driver and front passenger to keep a distance of
at least 25 cm from the steering wheel or dash panel. If the minimum
distance is not observed then the airbags do not correctly protect the
vehicle occupants; risk of fatal injuries! In addition, the front seats and
head restraints must always be positioned correctly for the height of the
occupant.
•
If you are not wearing a seat belt, if you lean forward or to the side while
travelling or assume an incorrect sitting position, there is a substantially
increased risk of injury. This increased risk of injury will be further
increased if you are struck by an inflating airbag.
•
Never let a child travel on the front seat without an appropriate restraint
system. If the airbag is triggered in an accident, children can sustain
serious or fatal injuries from the airbag as it inflates ⇒page 45, “Child
safety”.
•
The deployment space between the front passengers and the airbags
must not in any case be occupied by other passenger, pets and objects.
•
The airbags provide protection for just one accident; replace them once
they have deployed.
•
It is also important not to attach any objects such as cup holders or
telephone mountings to the surfaces covering the airbag units.
•
Do not attempt to modify components of the airbag system in any
way.
Side airbags*Description of side airbags
The airbag system is not a substitute for the seat belts.The side airbags are located in the backrest cushions of the driver seat
⇒ fig. 21 and the front passenger seat as well as in the rear seats. The loca-
tions are identified by the text “AIRBAG” in the upper region of the backrests.
Together with the seat belts, the side airbag system gives the front seat occu-
pants additional protection for the upper body in the event of a severe side
collision ⇒page 39, “Safety notes on the operation of the side airbag
system”.
In a side collision, the side airbags reduce the risk of injury to passengers on
the front seats to the areas of the body facing the impact. In addition to their
normal function of protecting the occupants in a collision, the seat belts also
hold the passengers on the front seats and the outer rear seats in a position
where the side airbags can provide maximum protection.
Fig. 21 Side airbag in
driver seat
leon_ingles Seite 36 Montag, 26. Januar 2009 4:29 16
Child safety45
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
Child safetyBrief introductionIntroduction
Statistics show that children are generally safer on the rear
seat than on the front passenger seat.We recommend that children under 12 years of age are transported on the
rear seats. Children travelling on th e rear seat must use a child restraint
system or the seat belts provided, depending on their age, height and
weight. For safety reasons, the child r estraint system should be installed in
the centre of the rear seat or behind the front passenger's seat.
The physical laws involved and the forces acting in a collision apply also to
children ⇒page 20, “Why wear seat belts?”.
But unlike adults, children do not ha ve muscle and bone structures fully
developed. This means that children are subject to a greater risk of injury.
To reduce this risk, children must always use special child restraint systems
when travelling in the vehicle.
We recommend the use of child safety products from the SEAT Genuine Acces-
sories Program including systems for all ages made by “Peke”
2).
These systems have been especially designed and approved, complying with
the ECE-R44. regulation.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions and observe any statutory require-
ments when installing and using child seats. Always read and observe
⇒ page 46. We recommend you to include together
with the on-board documentation,
the manufacturer's Child Se at instructions manual.
2)Not for all countries
leon_ingles Seite 45 Montag, 26. Januar 2009 4:29 16
Child safety
46Safety notes on using child seats
Proper use of child seats substantially reduces the risk of
injury in an accident!As the driver, you are responsible for any children you transport in
your vehicle.
– Protect your children by properly using appropriate child seats
⇒page 47.
– Always ensure that the belt webbing is properly positioned according to the instructions prov ided by the manufacturer of the
child seat.
– When travelling, do not allow children to distract you from traffic.
– Take breaks regularly during long trips. Take a break at least every two hours.
WARNING
•
Never install a child seat facing backwards (or rear-facing) on the front
passenger seat unless the front passenger airbag has been disabled. This
could lead to a risk of potentially fatal in juries to the child! However, if it is
necessary, in exceptional cases, to transport a child in the front passenger
seat, the front passenger airbag must always be disabled ⇒page 43,
“Deactivating airbags*”. If the passe nger seat has a height adjustment
option, move it to the highest position.
•
For those vehicles that do not include a key lock switch to turn the
airbag off, an Authorised Service Centre must be consulted.
•
All passengers, especially children, must assume the proper sitting
position and be properly belted in while travelling.
•
Never hold children or babies on your lap, this can result in potentially
fatal injuries to the child!
•
Never allow a child to be transported in a vehicle without being properly
secured, or to stand up or kneel on a seat while travelling. In an accident,
the child could be flung through the vehicle, causing possibly fatal injuries
to themselves and to the other passengers.
•
If children assume an improper sitting position when the car is moving,
they expose themselves to greater risk of injury in the event of sudden
braking manoeuvre or in an accident. This is particularly important if the
child is travelling on the front passenger seat and the airbag system is trig-
gered in an accident; as this could cause serious injury or even death.
•
A suitable child seat can protect your child!
•
Never leave an unsupervised child alone on a child seat or in the
vehicle.
•
Depending on weather conditions, it may become extremely hot or cold
inside the vehicle. This can be fatal.
•
Children who are less than 1.5 metres tall must not wear a normal seat
belt without a child restraint system, as this could cause injuries to the
abdominal and neck areas during a sudden braking manoeuvre or in an
accident.
•
Do not allow the belt webbing to become twisted or jammed, or to rub
on any sharp edges.
•
Incorrectly worn seat belts can cause injuries even in a minor collision
or in sudden braking manoeuvres.
•
The seat belt provides maximum prot ection only when the belt web is
properly positioned ⇒ page 23, “Seat belts”.
•
Only one child may occupy a child seat ⇒page 47, “Child seats”.WARNING (continued)
leon_ingles Seite 46 Montag, 26. Januar 2009 4:29 16
Child safety
48Group 1 child seats
A suitable child seat and a corr ectly adjusted seat belt can
help you to protect your child.Child seats using the “ISOFIX” system or seats in which the child faces the
rear of the car are most appropriate for babies and small children weighing
between 9 and 18 kg.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions and observe any statutory require-
ments when installing and using child seats.
We recommend you to include together with the on-board documentation,
the manufacturer's Child Seat instructions manual.
WARNING
Read and always observe information and warnings concerning the use of
child seats ⇒ page 46.
Group 2 and 3 child seats
A suitable child seat and a corr ectly adjusted seat belt can
help you to protect your child.Follow the manufacturer's instructions and observe any statutory require-
ments when installing and using child seats.
We recommend you to include together with the on-board documentation,
the manufacturer's Child Seat instructions manual.
Group 2 child seats
Children under 7 years of age weighing between 15 and 25 kg are best
protected by group 2 child seats together with properly adjusted seat belts.
Group 3 child seats
Children over 7 years of age weighing between 22 and 36 kg but less than 1.5
metres tall are best protected by seat cushions with head restraints together
with properly worn seat belts ⇒fig. 29 .
Fig. 28 A category 1
forward-facing child seat
fitted on the rear seat.
Fig. 29 Forward-facing
child seat installed on rear
seat.
leon_ingles Seite 48 Montag, 26. Januar 2009 4:29 16
Child safety49
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
WARNING
•
The shoulder part of the seat belt mu st lie approximately on the centre
of the shoulder, never across the neck or the arm. The seat belt must lie
close to the upper part of the body. The lap belt part must lie across the
pelvis, not across the stomach, and always fit closely. Pull the belt tight if
necessary to take up any slack ⇒page 23, “Seat belts”.
•
Read and always observe information and warnings concerning the use
of child seats ⇒page 46.
Securing child seatsWays to secure a child seat
A child seat can be secured differently on the rear seat and on
the front passenger seat.You can secure a child seat to the rear seat or front passenger seat in the
following ways:•
Child seats in groups 0 to 3 can be secured with a seat belt.
•
Child seats for groups 0, 0+ and 1 with the “ISOFIX” system can be
secured, without fastening seat belts, with the “ISOFIX” securing rings
⇒ page 50. U: Suitable for universal approved restraining systems for use in this age
category (universal retention systems are those fitted using the adult
seat belt).
*: Move the passenger seat as far to rear as possible, as high as possible and always deactivate the airbag.
L: Suitable for retention systems using the “ISOFIX” anchors.
WARNING
•
When travelling, children must be secured in the vehicle with a
restraint system suitable for age, weight and size.
•
Never install a child seat facing backwards (or rear-facing) on the front
passenger seat unless the front passenger airbag has been disabled. This
could lead to a risk of potentially fatal injuries to the child! However, if it is
necessary, in exceptional cases, to transport a child in the front passenger
seat, the front passenger airbag must always be disabled ⇒page 43,
“Deactivating airbags*” and move the seat to its highest position, in case
it has this adjustment.
•
Read and always observe information and warnings concerning the use
of child seats ⇒page 46.
Category
Weight
Seat locations
Front passen-
ger
Rear outer
Rear centre
Group 0
<10 kg
U*
U/L
U
Group 0+
<13 kg
U*
U/L
U
Group 1
9-18 kg
U*
U/L
U
Group 2 / 3
15-36 kg
U*
U
U
leon_ingles Seite 49 Montag, 26. Januar 2009 4:29 16
Seats and stowage127
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
Seats and stowageThe importance of correct seat adjustmentProper seat adjustment optimi ses the level of protection
offered by seat belts and airbags.Your 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.
The driver seat and the front passenger seat can be adjusted in many ways to
suit the physical requirements of the vehicle occupants. The correct seat
position is very important for:•
a fast and easy operation of all controls on the instrument panel,
•
a relaxed posture which does not cause drowsiness,
•
a safe driving ⇒page 7,
•
ensuring that the seat belts and airbag system provide maximum protec-
tion ⇒page 19.
WARNING
•
If the driver and passengers assume improper sitting positions, they
may sustain critical injuries.
•
More people than available seats must never be transported in your
vehicle.
•
Every passenger in the vehicle must properly fasten and wear the seat
belt belonging to his or her seat. Children must be protected with an appro-
priate child restraint system ⇒page 45, “Child safety”.
•
The front seats and all head restraints must always be adjusted to body
size and the seat belt must always be properly adjusted to provide you and
your passengers with optimum protection.
•
Always keep your feet on the foot well when the vehicle is moving;
never rest them on the dash panel, out of the window or on the seat. This
is also applied to passengers. An inco rrect sitting position exposes you to
an increased risk of injury in case of a sudden braking or an accident. If the
airbag is triggered, you could sustain severe injuries due to an incorrect
sitting position.
•
It is important for the driver and front passenger to keep a distance of
at least 25 cm from the steering wheel or dash panel. Failure to respect the
minimum distance means that the airbag will not protect you. Risk of fatal
injury. The distance between the driver and the steering wheel or between
the front passenger and the dash panel should always be as great as
possible.
•
Adjust the driver or front passenger seat only when the vehicle is
stationary. Otherwise, your seat could move unexpectedly while the
vehicle is moving. This could increase the risk of an accident and therefore,
injury. In addition, while adjusting your seat, you will assume an incorrect
sitting position. Risk of fatal accidents.
•
Special guidelines apply to installing a child seat on the front
passenger seat. When installing a child seat, observe the warning note in
the ⇒page 45, “Child safety”.WARNING (continued)
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