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 interchange 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 stowed 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 reels in 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, for all repairs on your vehicle, go to a qualified workshop with the skills and equipment needed, which a CITROËN dealer is able to provide. Have your seat belts checked regularly by a CITROËN dealer or a qualified workshop, 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 impact , the pretensioning device may be deployed before and independently of the airbags. Deployment of the pretensioners 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 or a qualified workshop.
181Safety
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 deployed 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 deployed; 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 deployed again.
Impact detection zones
A. Front impact zone. B. Side impact zone.
Deployment 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 shor t time.