Passive Safety
164
Before setting off The driver is always fully respon
sible for his occupants and for the
operating safety of the vehicle.For your own safety and the safety of the
people travelling with you, please pay
attention to the following points before setting off.•
Ensure that the lighting and the turn signal system are functioning properly.
•
Inspect the tyre inflation pressure.
•
Ensure that all the windows offer a good visibility to the outside.
•
Safely attach the items of luggage
⇒page 86, “Loading the luggage compart-
ment”.•
Ensure that no objects can obstruct the pedal.
•
Adjust the mirror, the front seat and the head restraint to match your body size.
•
Point out to your occupants that the head restraints must be adjusted to match
their body size.•
Protect the children in suitable child se
ats with correctly fastened seat belts
⇒ page 185, “Transporting children safely”.•
Adopt the correct seated position
⇒page 164, “Correct seated position”. Also
inform your occupants to adop
t the correct seated position.
•
Fasten the seat belt correctly. Also inform your occupants to properly fasten the
seat belts
⇒page 170, “How are seat belts correctly fastened?”.
What influences the driving safety? The driving safety is primarily dete
rmined by the style of driving and
the personal behaviour of all the occupants.The driver is fully responsible for himself and his occupants. If your driving safety is effected, you place yourself and the oncomi
ng traffic at risk. Please refer to the
following guidelines.•
Do not get distracted from concentrating on the traffic situation, e.g. by your
occupants or mobile phone calls.
•
Never drive when your driving ability is impaired, e.g. through medication,
alcohol, drugs.•
Keep to the traffic regulations and the permissible speed limit.
•
Adjust the driving speed at all times to the road condition as well as to the traffic
and weather conditions.•
Take regular breaks on long journeys - at the latest every two hours.
Correct seated positionCorrect seated position for the driver Correct seated position for the dr
iver is important for safe and
relaxed driving.
Fig. 160 The correct distance of the driver from the steering wheel
s2dk.1.book Page 164 Wednesday, April 8, 2009 12:23 PM
Passive Safety
166
Manual front passenger adjustment
⇒page 78, “Adjusting the front seats”.
Electrical front passenger seat adjustment
⇒page 79, “Adjusting front seats electri-
cally*”.
WARNING
•
The front seats and the head restraints must always be adjusted to match
the body size of the seat occupant as well as the seat belts must always be correctly fastened in order to provide an optimal protection for you and your occupants.•
The front passenger must maintain a distance of at least 25 cm to the
dash panel. Not maintaining this minimum distance will mean that the airbag system will not be able
to properly protect you - hazard!
•
Always keep your feet in the footwell
when the car is being driven - never
place your feet on the instrument panel, out of the window or on the surfaces of the seats. You will be exposed to increased risk of injury if it becomes necessary to apply the brake or in the event of an accident. If an airbag is deployed, you may suffer fata
l injuries when adopting an incorrect
seated position!•
The backrests must not be angled too far back when driving otherwise
this will affect proper operation of th
e seat belts and of the airbag system -
risk of injury!Correct seated position for the occupants on the rear seats Occupants on the rear seats must sit upright, keep the feet in the footwell and must have their se
at belts correctly fastened.
To reduce the risk of injury in the event of a sudden braking manoeuvre or an acci- dent, the occupants on the rear seats must observe the following.•
Adjust the head restraints so that the top edge of the head restraints are at the
same level as the upper part of your head
⇒page 165, fig. 161
.
•
Fasten the seat belt correctly
⇒page 170, “How are seat belts correctly
fastened?”.
•
If you are transporting
⇒page 185, “Transporting children safely” children in
the vehicle, please use a suitable child restraint system.
WARNING
•
The head restraints must always be adjusted to match the body size, in
order to offer an optimal protection for you and your occupants.•
Always keep your feet in the footwell
when the car is being driven - never
put your feet out of the window or on the surfaces of the seats. You will be exposed to increased risk of injury if it becomes necessary to apply the brake or in the event of an accident. If an airbag is deployed, you may suffer fatal injuries when adopting an incorrect seated position!•
If the occupants on the rear seats are not sitting upright, the risk of injury
is increased due to incorrec
t routing of the seat belt.
Examples of an incorrect seated position An incorrect seated position can lead to severe injuries or death for the occupants.Seat belts offer their optimum protection on
ly if the webbing of the seat belts is
properly routed. Incorrect seated positio
ns considerably reduce the protective
functions of the seat belts and therefore incr
ease the risk of injury due to an incor-
rect routing of the seat belt. The driver is fully responsible for himself and the occu-pants, in particular for the children. Do
not permit an occupant to adopt an incor-
rect seated position when the car is moving. The following list contains
the examples of seated positions which are dangerous
for the occupants. This list is not comple
te, however we would like you to get inter-
ested in this subject. Therefore, while the car is moving never:•
stand up in the vehicle,
•
stand up on the seats,
•
kneel onto the seats,
•
tilt the backrest fully to the back,
s2dk.1.book Page 166 Wednesday, April 8, 2009 12:23 PM
Seat belts
172
Taking seat belts off– Press the red button in the belt lock
⇒
fig. 168
. The spring force causes
the tongue of the lock to jump out.
– Guide the belt back with your hand
to enable the inertia reel to wind
up the belt webbing more easily.
A plastic knob in the belt webbing holds the belt tongue in a position which is easy to get hold of.Three-point safety belt for the middle rear seatYour car is equipped as standa
rd with the three-point seat belt in the middle rear
seat. It is used in the same way as the three-point seat belts on the left and right (at front and rear).
WARNING
The three-point safety belt for the rear middle seat can only fulfil its function reliably when the backrests are correctly locked into position
⇒page 84.
Belt tensionersSafety for the driver and passengers
wearing their seat belts
, is enhanced by the
belt tensioners fitted to the inertia reels of the front and rear side three-point seat belts, in addition to the protecti
on afforded by the airbag system.
The three-point seat belts are automatically
tensioned in the event of a frontal colli-
sion of a certain severity.The
belt tensioners can also be deployed if the seat belts
are not fastened. The belt tensioner is deployed in the event
of a frontal collision of major severity. A
powder charge is ignited in the inertia
reels during deployment. The belt webbing
is pulled into the inertia reels by a mech
anical system and the belt is tensioned.
The belt tensioners are not activated in
case of minor frontal and rear-end colli-
sions, in the case of vehicle rollover or accidents, through which no long delays are incurred to the vehicle. In the case of a side collision, only the belt tensioner of the front seat on the side on which th
e collision takes place is deployed.
WARNING
•
Any work on the system including removal and installation of system
components because of other repair work, must only be carried out by a specialist garage.•
The protective function of the system is only adequate for a single acci-
dent. If the belt tensioners have been deployed, it is then necessary to replace the entire system.•
The Owner's Manual must also be ha
nded over to the new owner if the
vehicle is sold.
Note
•
Smoke is generated when the belt tensione
rs are deployed. This is not an indi-
cation of a fire in the vehicle.•
It is essential to pay attention to relevant
safety regulations if the vehicle or indi-
vidual parts of the system are scrapped. Specialist garages are familiar with these regulations and will be able to provide you
with detailed information in this respect.
Fig. 168 Releasing lock tongue from belt lock
s2dk.1.book Page 172 Wednesday, April 8, 2009 12:23 PM
Airbag system
183
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
On vehicles equipped with the switch for deactivation of the airbags, you can deac- tivate the front and side passenger airbag by means of this switch
⇒page 183.
Deactivation of airbags is envisaged only
for particular inst
ances, such as if:
•
you must
in exceptional cases
use a child seat on the front passenger seat
where the child has its back to the directio
n of travel of the ve
hicle (in some coun-
tries this must be in the direction of travel due to other legal regulations applying) ⇒ page 185, “Important safety information regarding the use of child safety seats”,•
you are not able to maintain the distance
of at least 25 cm between middle of
steering wheel and chest, despite the driver seat being correctly adjusted,•
special attachments are required in the area of the steering wheel because of a
physical disability,•
you have installed other seats (e.g. orthopaedic seats without side airbags).
Monitoring the airbag system The functionality of the airbag system is also monitored electronically, when one airbag has been switched off If the airbag was switched of
f using diagnostic equipment:
•
The warning light for the airbag system
lights up for 4 seconds after switching
on the ignition and then flashes for 12 seconds afterwards in 2 second intervals. Front passenger airbags switched off
using the switch for front passenger
airbags* in storage compartmen
t on the front passenger side:
•
the airbag indicator light in the inst
rument cluster comes on for about 4
seconds each time the ig
nition is switched on,
•
switching off airbags is indicated in the middle of the dash panel by the lighting
up of the indicator light
in the display
⇒fig. 178
.
Note
Your authorised Škoda Service Partner will
be able to advise
you whether national
legislation in your country allows airbags
in your vehicle to
be deactivated, and
which ones.
Switch for the front passenger airbag*The front passenger airbag is deactivated with the switch. Deactivating an airbag – Switch off the ignition. – Turn the slot of the airbag switch using the key in the position (
OFF
)
⇒
fig. 178
.
– Check whether the airbag indicator light
in display
in the middle of the dash panel
lights up when the ignition is
turned on
⇒
fig. 179
.
Fig. 178 Storage compart- ment: Switch for the front passenger airbagFig. 179 Indicator light for the front passenger airbag
A2
s2dk.1.book Page 183 Wednesday, April 8, 2009 12:23 PM
Airbag system
184
Switching on an airbag – Switch off the ignition. – Turn the slot of the airbag switch using the key in the position (
ON
)
⇒
page 183, fig. 178
.
– Check whether the airbag indicator light
in display
in the middle of the dash pa
nel does not light up when the
ignition is turned on
⇒
page 183, fig. 179
.
The airbags should only be switched
off under exceptional circumstances.
Indicator light
in display
(airbag switched off)
The airbag indicator light is located in the middle of the dash panel
⇒page 183,
fig. 179
.
If the front passenger airbag is
switched off
, the warning light comes on about 4
seconds after the igniti
on is switched on.
There is a system fault present in the airbag switch off
⇒
if the indicator light
flashes.
Please have the car inspected i
mmediately by a sp
ecialist garage.
WARNING
•
The driver is responsible for whethe
r the airbag is switched on or
switched off.•
Only switch off the airbag when the ignition is switched off! Otherwise a
fault can occur in the system for the airbag deactivation.•
If the indicator light
in display
(airbag switched
off) flashes:
− Front passenger airbag is not deployed in the event of an accident! − It is also important to have the system inspected without delay by a specialist garage.
A1
s2dk.1.book Page 184 Wednesday, April 8, 2009 12:23 PM
Transporting children safely
192
You can obtain child seats with the “ISOFIX” 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 obje
cts to the locking eyes - hazard!
•
Ask an authorised Škoda Service Part
ner 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 “ISOFIX” 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 correspo
nds to an age range of from 9 months to
4 years.•
The child seats can also be fitted with the “Top Tether” system
⇒page 192.
Attaching child seat using the “Top Tether” systemIIn certain countries national
legal provisions also requir
e the equipment of the rear
seat with fixing eyes for child seat using the “Top Tether” system
⇒fig. 189
.
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. 189
.
•
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. 189 Rear seat: Top Te t h e r
s2dk.1.book Page 192 Wednesday, April 8, 2009 12:23 PM
Intelligent Technology
193
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Driving TipsIntelligent TechnologyElectronic stability programme (ESP)*GeneralGeneral The ESP aids you maintain control of your vehicle in situations in borderline driving situations such as when negotiating a curve too fast. The risk of skidding is reduced and your car thus offers greater driving stability depending on the conditions of the road surface. This occurs at all speeds. The following systems are integrated into the electronic stability programme:•
Electronic Differential Lock (EDL),
•
Traction control system (TCS),
•
Active driver-steering recommendation (DSR),
•
Antilock brake system (ABS),
•
Brake Assist,
•
Uphill-Start off-Assist.
Operating principle The ESP switches on automatically when the engine is started and then conducts a self-test. The ESP control unit processes data from the individual systems. It also processes additional measurement data which are supplied by highly sensitive sensors: the rotational velocity of the vehi
cle about its vertical axis, the lateral accel-
eration of the vehicle, the brakin
g pressure and the steering angle.
The direction which the driver wishes to ta
ke is determined based on the steering
angle and the speed of the vehicle and is constantly compared with the actual behaviour of the vehicle. If differences exis
t, such as the car beginning to skid, the
ESP will automatically brake the appropriate wheel. The car is stabilised again by the forces which take effect when the wheel is braked. Intervention into the brake system takes place primarily on the outer front wheel of a vehicle which tends to oversteer (tendency for the rear of the vehicle to break away) while occurs this is on the inner re
ar wheel of a vehicle which tends to under-
steer (tendency to shift out of the curve). This braking control cycle is accompanied by noises. The ESP operates in combination with the ABS
⇒page 197. If there is a fault in the
ABS system, the ESP also does not operate. The ESP warning light lights up in the instru
ment cluster when there is a fault on the
ESP
⇒page 39.
Switching off You can switch the ESP off and on again
as you wish, by pressing the button
⇒ fig. 190
. The ESP warning light lights up in th
e instrument cluster when the ESP is
switched off
⇒page 39.
The ESP should normally always be switched
on. It may be good practice in certain
exceptional cases, such as when you wish
to have wheel slip, to switch off the
system. Examples:
Fig. 190 ESP switch
s2dk.1.book Page 193 Wednesday, April 8, 2009 12:23 PM
Intelligent Technology
194
•
when driving with snow chains
•
when driving in deep snow or on a loose surface
•
when it is necessary to rock a ca
r free when it has become stuck.
then you should switch on the ESP again.
WARNING
It is also not possible for the ESP to overcome the physical limits of the vehicle. Even if a vehicle fitted with ESP you should still always adapt your style of driving to the condition of the
road surface and the traffic situation.
This particularly applies when driving on slippery and wet roads. The increased safety offered must not tempt you to take greater risks than other- wise - risk of an accident!
Note
•
All four wheels must be fitted with the same tyres in order to achieve problem-
free operation of the ESP. Differing rolling
circumferences of the tyres can lead to an
undesirable reduction in the engine output.•
Changes to vehicle (e.g. on engine, on the brakes, on chassis or other assign-
ment of tyres and wheels) can influence the function of the ESP
⇒page 241,
“Accessories, changes and replacement of parts”.Electronic Differential Lock (EDL)* The electronic differential lock pr
events an individual wheel from
slipping.Models fitted with ESP are equipped with electronic differential lock (EDL). General The EDL makes it much easier, and sometimes at all possible, to start off, accelerate and climb a steep hill when the conditio
ns of the road surface are unfavourable.
Operating principle The EDL is activated automatically, that is
without any action on the part of the
driver. It monitors the speeds of the driven wheels with the aid of the ABS sensors. Should only
one
drive wheel begin spinning on a slippery surface there will be an
appreciable difference in the speed of the driven wheels. The EDL function brakes the slipping wheel and the differential transmits a greater driving force to the other driven wheel. This control proces
s is also accompanied by noises.
Overheating of the brakes The EDL switches off
automatically if unusually severe
stresses exist in order to
avoid excessive heat generation in the
disc brake on the wheel which is being
braked. The vehicle can continue to be driv
en and has the same characteristics as a
vehicle not fitted with EDL. The EDL switches on again
automatically as soon as the brake has cooled down.
WARNING
•
Depress the accelerator carefully when accelerating on uniformly slip-
pery road surfaces, such as ice and sn
ow. The driven wheels might still spin
despite the EDL and affect the stability
of the vehicle - risk of an accident!
•
You should always adapt your style of driving to the condition of road
surface and to the traffic situation even
when your vehicle is fitted with EDL.
The increased safety offered must not tempt you to take greater risks than otherwise - risk of an accident!
Note
•
If the ABS or ESP warning light comes on,
this may also indicate a fault in the
EDL. Please have the car inspected as s
oon as possible by a specialist garage.
•
Changes to vehicle (e.g. on engine, on
the brakes, on chassis or other assign-
ment of tyres and wheels) can in
fluence the function of the EDL
⇒page 241,
“Accessories, changes and
replacement of parts”.
s2dk.1.book Page 194 Wednesday, April 8, 2009 12:23 PM