2008 SKODA OCTAVIA Owner's Manual

Transporting children safely
184
Transporting children safely
What you should know about transporting children!
An introduction to the subject
Accident statistics have revealed that children are generally more
safely transported on the rear seat s than on the front passenger seat.
Children younger than 12 years of age should normally travel on the rear seat of the
vehicle (take note of any national legal pr ovisions which differ from this). They
should be secured there by means of a child restraint system or by using the existing
seat belts depending on their age, body si ze and weight. The child seat should be
mounted behind the front passen ger seat for safety reasons.
The physical principle of an accident does, of course, also apply to children
⇒ page 169, “The physical principle of a frontal collision”. They differ from adults in
that their muscles and bone structure of ch ildren are not yet fully developed. Thus
children are exposed to increased risk of injury.
Children should be transported by using special child safety seats in order to
reduce this risk of injury.
Use only child safety seats which are offici ally approved and are suitable for chil-
dren and which comply with the ECE-R 44 Standard, which classifies child safety
seats into 5 groups ⇒page 187. Child restraint systems 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.
We recommend that you use child safety seats from the Škoda genuine accessories.
These child seats were developed and also tested for use in Škoda vehicles. They
fulfil the standard ECE-R 44.
WARNING
Always comply with legal provisions and instructions from the relevant child
safety seat manufacturer when in stalling and using the child seat
⇒ page 184.
Note
Any varying national legal regulations take priority over the information provided in
these instructions for use, or stated in this chapter.
Important safety information regarding the use of child safety
seats
Correct use of child safety seats considerably reduces the risk of
injury!
WARNING
•All the occupants of the car - in particul ar children - must wear a seat belt
when the car is moving.
•Children less than 1.50 m in height or younger than 12 years must not use
a normal seat belt without a child restraint system otherwise this may result
in injuries to the stomach and neck areas. Comply with the national legal
requirements.
•One should never carry children, an d also not babies! - on one's lap.
•You can transport a child safely in a suitable child safety seat ⇒page 187,
“Child seat”!
•Only one child may be fastened with a seat belt into a child safety seat.
•Never leave the child sitting unattended in the seat.
•Certain outside climatic conditions can cause life-threatening tempera-
tures in the vehicle.
•Never allow your child to be transported in a vehicle without the use of a
suitable restraint system.
•Children should also never stand up in a vehicle or kneel on the seats
when the vehicle is moving. In the even t of an accident the child will be
thrown through the vehicle and may as a result suffer fatal injuries, and also
injure other occupants.
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•Children are exposed to an increased risk of injury in the event of an acci-
dent if they lean forward or adopt an incorrect seated position when the
vehicle is moving. This particularly applies to children who are transported
on the front passenger seat if the airbag system deploys in the event of an
accident. This can result in severe or even fatal injuries.
•It is important that the belt webbing is properly routed if the seat belts
are to offer their maximum protection ⇒page 170, “How are seat belts
correctly fastened?”. Pay particular attention to the information provided by
the manufacturer of the child safety seat regarding correct routing of the
belt. Seat belts which are not correctl y adjusted can themselves cause inju-
ries even in minor accidents.
•Safety belts must be checked to ensure that they are running properly.
One should also ensure th at the belt is not damaged by sharp-edged fittings.
•It is essential to always switch off ⇒page 182 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.
Use of child safety seats on the front passenger seat
Child safety seats should always be attached to the rear seats.
We recommend, for safety reasons, that you always mount a child restraint systems
on the rear seats whenever possible. If you still decide, however, to use a child
safety seat on the front passenger seat then you must pay attention to the following
warnings in connection with the use of th e airbag system on the front passenger
seat.
WARNING
•Warning - particular hazard! Never use a child safety seat on the front
passenger seat in which the child is seated with its back facing the direction
of travel. This child safety seat is positioned in the deployment area of the
front passenger airbag. The airbag may cause the child severe, or even fatal
injuries, in the event of it being deployed.
•This is also clearly stated on the sticker which is located on the centre
column of the body on the front passenger side ⇒fig. 187 . The sticker is
visible upon opening the front passenger door. For so me countries, the
sticker is also affixed to the sun visor of the front passenger.
•It is essential to always switch off ⇒page 181, “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 al so when the child is facing the direction of travel).
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 187 Sticker on the centre
column of the body on the
front passenger side.
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186
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.
•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. Have the airbag (or ai rbags) deactivated if necessary ⇒page 181,
“Deactivating an airbag”.
•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 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 178, “Function of the side airbags”.
An airbag inflating develops such a strong force that an occupant who has not
adopted an upright seated position may suffer injuries from the airbag or as a result
of objects which are located within the deployment area of the side airbag.
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 188 Seated position of
an unprotected child at risk
from side airbag
Fig. 189 Child properly
protected by safety seat
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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 181 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.
The divided rear seat - seat can be fi tted with fixing eyes for the system “To p
Te t h e r *” ⇒ page 191.
GroupWeight
00 - 10 kg⇒ page 188
0+up to 13 kg⇒page 188
19 - 18 kg⇒page 188
215 - 25 kg⇒page 189
322 - 36 kg⇒page 189
Child seat
groupsFront passenger seatRear seat outsideRear seat middle
0
0+
1
2 and 3
AUA+AUA+ATAU
AUA+AUA+ATAU
AUA+AUA+ATAU
AUAUAU
AU
A+
AT
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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. 190 .
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 185, “Use of child safety seats on the front passenger seat”.
WARNING
•It is essential to always switch off the front passenger airbag (airbags)
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).
− in a specialist garage
− or by using the switch for the front passenger airbag* ⇒page 182,
“Switch for the front passenger airbag*”.
•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. 191 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 185, “Use of child
safety seats on the front passenger seat”.
WARNING
•It is essential to always switch off the front passenger airbag (airbags)
when attaching in exceptional circumstan ces a child safety seat on the front
Fig. 190 Child seats of group
0/0+
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 191 Child seat with
padded table in Group 1
installed on rear seat bench
facing the direction of travel
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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).
−in a specialist garage
− or by using the switch for the front passenger airbag* ⇒page 182,
“Switch for the front passenger airbag*”.
•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. 192 .
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. If required, the airb ag has to be deactivated,
− in a specialist garage
− or by using the switch for the front passenger airbag* ⇒page 182,
“Switch for the front passenger airbag*”.
•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. 193 .
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 192 Child seat in Group
2 installed on the rear seat
facing the direction of travelFig. 193 Child seat in Group
3 installed on the rear seat
facing the direction of travel
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Children of more than 150 cm in height may use the seat belts fitted to the vehicle
without a seat bolster.
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. If required, the airbag has to be deactivated,
−in a specialist garage
− or by using the switch for the front passenger airbag* ⇒page 182,
“Switch for the front passenger airbag*”.
•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 a child seat using the “ISOFIX” system
There are two fixing eyes* between the backrest and the seat of the front
passenger for fixing the “ISOFIX” syst em child seat in place. The locking
eyes on the rear outside rear seats are located below the upholstery. The
places are marked with signs with the “ISOFIX” logo.
Install child seat
– Open the zip fasteners between the seat and the backrest of the rear outside seat.
– Insert the mounting funnels onto the locking eyes between the backrest and seat cushion ⇒fig. 194 .
– Push the notched arms of the chil d seat over the mounting funnels
into the locking eyes, until it is heard to lock ⇒fig. 195 .
– Pull on both sides of the child seat!
One can mount a child safety seat using the “ISOFIX” system quickly, easily and reli-
ably. Please pay close attention to instru ctions from the manufacturer of the child
safety seat when installing and removing the seat.
Child seats fitted with the “ISOFIX” clamping system can only be mounted and fixed
in a vehicle fitted with an “ISOFIX sy stem” when these child seats have been
released for this type of vehicle according to the ECE-R 44 standard.
Fig. 194 Locking eyes
(ISOFIX system)
Fig. 195 The ISOFIX child
seat is pushed into the
mounting funnels
AAAB
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You can obtain child seats with the “ISOFI
X” attachment system from specialist
garages who will also installed it as well.
Complete installation instructions are enclosed with the child safety seat.
WARNING
•The locking eyes have just been de veloped for child safety seats which
use the “ISOFIX” system. You should therefore never attach other child
safety seats, seat belts or objects to the locking eyes - hazard!
•Ask a Škoda Service Partner whether a child seat which you bought for
another vehicle is recommended for use in a Škoda before using an “ISOFIX”
system.
•Certain child seats which use the “ISO FIX” system can be attached with
standard three-point seat belts. Please pay close attention to instructions
from the manufacturer of the child safety seat when installing and removing
the seat.
Note
•Child seats which use the “ISOFIX” system are currently available for children
weighing from 9 up to 18 kg. This corresponds to an age range of from 9 months to
4 years.
•The child seats can also be fitted with the “Top Tether” system ⇒page 191.
Attaching child seat using the “Top Tether” system
IIn certain countries national legal provisions also require the equipment of the rear
seat with fixing eyes for child seat using the “Top Tether” system ⇒fig. 196 .
Always perform the installation and removal of the child seat using the “Top Tether”
system as stated in the instructions fr om the manufacturer of the child seat.
WARNING
•Attach the child seats with the “Top Tether” system only to the points
provided for this purpose ⇒fig. 196 .
•On no account should you equip your vehicle, e.g. mount screws or other
anchorage points.
•Pay attention to the important safety information regarding the use of
child seats.
Note
Store the remaining part of the belt for the “Top Tether” system in a textile pocket,
which is located at the child seat.
Fig. 196 Rear seat: Top
Te t h e r
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