2009.5 Citroen DS3 Owner's Manual

135Safety
Emergency braking assistance
System which, in an emergency, enables you to obtain the optimum braking pressure more quickly, thus reducing the stopping distance.
Activation
It is triggered by the speed at which the brake pedal is pressed. The effect of this is a reduction in the resistance of the pedal and an increase in braking efficiency.
When braking in an emergency, press firmly without releasing the pressure.
Trajectory control systems
Anti-skid regulation (ASR)
and electronic stability
programme (ESP)
The anti-skid regulation (also known as Traction Control) optimises traction to prevent skidding of the wheels, by acting on the brakes of the driving wheels and on the engine. The electronic stability programme acts on the brake of one or more wheels and on the engine to keep the vehicle on the trajectory required by the driver, within the limits of the laws of physics.
Activation
These systems are activated automatically each time the vehicle is star ted. They come into operation in the event of a grip or trajectory problem.
This is indicated by flashing of this warning lamp on the instrument panel.

Deactivation
In exceptional conditions (star ting a vehicle which is bogged down, stuck in snow, on soft ground...), it may be advisable to deactivate the ASR and ESP systems, so that the wheels can
move freely and regain grip.  Press the "ESP OFF" button, located on the left below the steering wheel.
If this warning lamp comes on in the instrument panel and the indicator lamp on the button comes on, this indicates that the ASR and ESP systems are deactivated.
Reactivation
These systems are reactivated automatically each time the ignition is switched back on or from 30 mph (50 km/h) (except 1.6 litreTHP 150 petrol engine).
 Press the "ESP OFF" button again to reactivate them manually.
Operating fault
The ESP/ASR systems offer exceptional safety in normal driving, but this should not encourage the driver to take extra risks or drive at high speed. The correct functioning of these systems depends on obser vation of the manufacturer's recommendations regarding the wheels (tyres and rims), the braking components, the electronic components and the CITROËN assembly and operation procedures. After an impact, have these systems checked by a CITROËN dealer.
If this warning lamp comes on, accompanied by an audible signal and a message on the multifunction screen, this
indicates a malfunction of these systems. Have the systems checked by a CITROËN dealer.

Safety
Seat belts
Front seat belts
The front seat belts are fitted with a pretensioning and force limiting system. This system improves safety in the front seats in the event of a front impact.
Depending on the severity of the impact, the pretensioning system instantly tightens the seat belts against the body of the occupants. The pretensioning seat belts are active when the ignition is on. The force limiter reduces the pressure of the seat belt on the chest of the occupant, so improving their protection. Fastening
 Pull the strap, then inser t the tongue in the buckle.  Check that the seat belt is fastened correctly by pulling the strap.
Unfastening
 Press the red button on the buckle.  Guide the seat belt as it is reeled in.
Seat belt not fastened/unfastened warning lamp
When the ignition is switched on, this warning lamp comes on in the instrument panel, if the driver and/or the front passenger has not fastened their seat belt. From approximately 12 mph (20 km/h) this warning lamp flashes for two minutes accompanied by an audible signal of increasing volume. Once these two minutes have elapsed,
this warning lamp remains on until the driver and/or the front passenger fastens their seat belt.

Rear seat belts
Fastening
 Pull the strap, then inser t the tongue in the buckle.  Check that the seat belt is fastened correctly by pulling the strap.
Unfastening
 Press the red button on the buckle.  Guide the seat belt as it is reeled in.
The rear seats are each fitted with a three-point iner tia reel seat belt with force limiter.

139Safety
The driver must ensure that passengers use the seat belts correctly and that they are all restrained securely before setting off. Wherever you are seated in the vehicle, always fasten your seat belt, even for shor t journeys. Do not inver t the seat belt buckles as they will not fulfil their role fully. The seat belts are fitted with an iner tia reel permitting automatic adjustment of the length of the strap to your size. The seat belt is stored automatically when not in use. Before and after use, ensure that the seat belt is reeled in correctly. The lower par t of the strap must be positioned as low as possible on the pelvis. The upper par t must be positioned in the hollow of the shoulder. The iner tia reels are fitted with an automatic locking device which comes into operation in
the event of a collision, emergency braking or if the vehicle rolls over. You can release the device by pulling firmly on the strap and
releasing it so that it re-winds slightly.
In order to be effective, a seat belt must: - be tightened as close to the body as possible, - be pulled in front of you with a smooth movement, checking that it does not twist, - be used to restrain only one person, - not bear any trace of cuts or fraying, - not be conver ted or modified to avoid affecting its per formance. In accordance with current safety regulations, all repairs and checks must be carried out by a CITROËN dealer who guarantees that the work is carried out correctly. Have your seat belts checked regularly by a CITROËN dealer and par ticularly if the straps show signs of damage. Clean the seat belt straps with soapy water or a textile cleaning product, sold by CITROËN dealers.
After folding or moving a seat or rear bench seat, ensure that the seat belt is positioned and reeled in correctly.
Recommendations for children
Use a suitable child seat if the passenger is less than 12 years old or shor ter than one and a half metres. Never use the same seat belt to secure more than one person. Never allow a child to travel on your lap.
In the event of an impact
Depending on the nature and seriousness of the impacts , the pre-tensioning device may be triggered before and independentlyof the airbags. Triggering of the pre-tensioners is accompanied by a slight discharge of harmless smoke and a noise, due to the activation of the pyrotechnic car tridge incorporated in the system. In all cases, the airbag warning lamp comes on. Following an impact, have the seat belts system checked, and if necessary replaced, by a CITROËN dealer.

Airbags
System designed to maximise the safety of the occupants (with the exception of the rear centre passenger) in the event of violent collisions. It supplements the action of the force-limiting
seat belts (with the exception of the rear centre passenger). If a collision occurs, the electronic detectors record and analyse the front and side impacts sustained in the impact detection zones: - in the case of a serious impact, the airbags are triggered instantly and protect the occupants of the vehicle (with the exception of the rear centre passenger); immediately after the impact, the airbags deflate rapidly so that they do not hinder visibility or the exit of the occupants, - in the case of a minor or rear impact or in cer tain roll-over conditions, the airbags will not be triggered; the seat belt alone is sufficient to provide optimum protection in these situations.
The airbags do not operate when the ignition is switched off. This equipment will only deploy once. If a second impact occurs (during the same or a subsequent accident), the airbag will not be triggered again.
Impact detection zones
A. Front impact zone. B. Side impact zone.
Triggering of the airbag(s) is
accompanied by a slight emission of harmless smoke and a noise, due to the activation of the pyrotechnic
car tridge incorporated in the system. This smoke is not harmful, but sensitive individuals may experience slight irritation. The noise of the detonation may result in a slight loss of hearing for a short time.

141Safety
Front airbags
System which protects the driver and front passenger in the event of a serious front impact in order to limit the risk of injury to the head and chest. The driver's airbag is incorporated in the centre of the steering wheel; the front passenger's airbag is incorporated in the dashboard above the glove box.
Activation
The airbags are triggered simultaneously, unless the passenger's front airbag is deactivated, in the event of a serious front impact applied to all or par t of the front impact zone A , in the longitudinal centreline of the vehicle on a horizontal plane and directed from the front to the rear of the vehicle. The front airbag inflates between the head-thorax of the front occupant of the vehicle and the dashboard to cushion their for ward
movement.

Deactivation
Only the passenger's front airbag can be deactivated:  with the ignition off , inser t the key in the n offpassenger airbag deactivation switch 1 ,  turn it to the "OFF" position,  then, remove the key keeping the switch in the new position.
This warning lamp comes on in the instrument panel when the ignition is on and until the airbag is re-activated.
To assure the safety of your child, the passenger's front airbag must be deactivated when you install a "rear facing" child seat on the front
passenger seat. Other wise, the child would risk being seriously injured or killed if the airbag were triggered.
Reactivation
When you remove the child seat, turn switch 1 to the "ON" position to re-activate the airbag and so assure the safety of your front passenger in the event of an impact.
With the ignition on, this warning
lamp comes on in the instrument panel for approximately one minute, if the passenger's front airbag is activated.
Operating fault
If this warning lamp flashes, contact a CITROËN dealer. The passenger's front airbag may no longer be triggered in the event of a serious impact.
If at least one of the two airbag warning lamps come on continuously, do not install a child seat on the front passenger seat. Have the system checked by a CITROËN dealer.
If this warning lamp comes on on the instrument panel, accompanied by an
audible warning and a message on the multifunction screen, contact a CITROËN dealer to have the system checked. The airbags may no longer be triggered in the event of a serious impact.