98
KNOW YOUR
VEHICLE
SAFETY
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
WARNING LIGHTS
AND MESSAGES
IN AN EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
CARRYING CHILDREN SAFELYFor optimal protection in the event of a collision, all pas-
sengers must be seated and wearing adequate restraint
systems.
This is even more important for children.
This prescription is compulsory in all EC countries ac-
cording to EC Directive 2003/20/EC.
Compared with adults, a child’s head is proportionally larg-
er and heavier than the rest of the body, while muscles and
bone structure are not fully developed.
Therefore, correct restraint systems are necessary other
than adult seat belts.
The results of research on the best child restraint system
are contained in the European Standard ECE-R44, which
enforces the use of restraint systems classified into five
groups:
Group 0 0 – 10 kg in weight
Group 0+ 0 – 13 kg in weight
Group 1 9 – 18 kg in weight
Group 2 15 – 25 kg in weight
Group 3 22 – 36 kg in weight
SERIOUS DANGER: never place cradle
child’s seats facing backwards on the front
passenger’s seat of cars fitted with pas-
senger’s air bag. Deployment of the airbag
in an accident could cause fatal injuries
to the baby. It is advisable to carry children always
on the rear seat which is the most protected po-
sition in the event of an accident. Never fit child
seats systems on the front seat if the car is pro-
vided with passenger’s air bag: as the airbag could
cause even fatal injury independently from the
severity of the collision which caused its deploy-
ment. If necessary, children can stay on the front
seat, only if the passenger’s airbag can be disabled.
It is absolutely necessary to check the warning
light
F
on the dashboard to make sure that the
deactivation has actually taken place (see “Pas-
senger’s front air bag”, paragraph “Front air
bags”). Move the passenger’s seat as far back as
possible to avoid contact between the child seat
and the dashboard.
WARNING
All child restraint devices must bear the certification da-
ta, together with the control brand, on a solidly fixed la-
bel which must absolutely never be removed.
091-110 PANDA EN 7-10-2009 13:46 Pagina 98
