2010 SKODA SUPERB belt

Seat belts165
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Seat beltsWhy seat belts?It is a proven fact that seat belt s offer good protection in accidents fig. 148 . Thus
wearing a seat belt is a legal requirement in most countries.
Seat belts which have been correctly fasten ed and adjusted hold the occupants of the
car in the correct seated position fig. 148 . The belts reduce the kinetic energy
(energy of motion) to a considerable exte nt. They also prevent uncontrolled move-
ments which, in turn, may well result in severe injuries.
The occupants of a vehicle who have fastened and correctly adjusted their seat belt,
profit to a major extent from the fact that the kinetic energy is optimally absorbed by
the belts. The structure of the front end of the vehicle and other passive safety meas-
ures, such as the airbag system, also cont ribute to reducing the kinetic energy. The
energy produced is thus absorbed and there is less risk of injury.
Accident statistics prove that seat belts which are fastened and properly adjusted
reduce the risk of an injury and enhance the chance of survival in a major accident
 page 166.
It is important that you pay attention to safety measures, particularly when trans-
porting children in the vehicle page 180, “What you should know about trans-
porting children!”.
WARNING

Fasten your seat belt each time before setting off, also when driving in town!
This also applies to the people seated at the rear - risk of injury!

Expectant women must also always wear a seat belt. This is the only way of
ensuring optimal protection for the unborn child page 167, “Fastening
three-point seat belts”.

It is important for the belt webbing to be properly routed if the seat belts are
to offer the maximum protection. You can see a description of how safety belts
should be fitted properly on the next pages.Note
Please comply with any differing legal requirements when using the seat belts.The physical principle of a frontal collisionFig. 149 The driver is catapulted forward if not wearing a belt / The rear seat occupant is cata-
pulted forward if not wearing a beltThe physical principle of a frontal a ccident can be explained quite simply:
Motion energy, so-called kinetic energy, is produced as soon as the vehicle is moving,
both for the vehicle and its occupants. The magnitude of this kinetic energy depends
essentially on the speed at which the vehicl e is travelling and on the weight of the
Fig. 148 Driver wearing seat belt
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Seat belts
166
vehicle and the occupants. The greater the speed and weight increase, the greater the
amount of energy which has to be absorbed in the event of an accident.
The speed of the vehicle is, nevertheless, the most important factor. Doubling the
speed of the vehicle from 25 km/h up to 50 km/hour increases the kinetic energy four
times.
The common opinion that it is possible to su pport your body in a minor accident with
your hands, is incorrect. Even in a collision at only a low speed, the forces acting on the
body are such that it is no longer possible to support your body.
Even if you only drive at a speed within the range from 30 km/hour to 50 km/hour, the
forces which are produced on your body in the event of an accident can easily exceed
10.000 N (Newton). This equals a weight of one tonne (1 000 kg).
In the event of a frontal collision, occupants of the vehicle not wearing a seat belt, are
thrown forward and strike in an uncontrolled way parts of the interior of the vehicle,
such as steering wheel, dash panel, windscreen, page 165, fig. 149 - left. The occu-
pants of a vehicle who have not fastened their seat belts may even be thrown out of
the vehicle. This can result in fatal injuries.
It is also important that rear seat occupants fasten their seat belts as they will otherwise
be thrown through the vehicle in an uncontr olled manner in the event of an accident
A rear seat passenger who has not fastened the s eat bel t i s a dang er not o nl y to hims elf
but also for those seated at the front page 165, fig. 149 - right.Important safety information regarding the use of seat beltsThe correct use of the seat belts cons iderably reduces the risk of injury!
WARNING

The belt webbing must not be jammed in-between at any point or twisted,
or chafe against any sharp edges.

It is important that the belt webbing is properly routed if the seat belts are
to offer their maximum protection page 167, “How are seat belts correctly
fastened?”.

No two persons (also not children) should ever use a single seat belt
together.

The maximum protection which seat belts can offer is only achieved if you
are correctly seated page 162, “Correct seated position”.

The belt webbing must not run across solid or fragile objects (e.g. specta-
cles, ball-point pens, keys etc.) as this may be a cause of injuries.

Bulky, loose clothing (e.g. a winter coat over a jacket) does not allow you to
be correctly seated and impairs proper operation of the seat belts.

It is prohibited to use clamps or other objects to adjust seat belts (e.g. for
shortening the belts for smaller persons).

The lock tongue should only be inserted into the lock which is the correct
one for your seat. Wrong use of the safety belt will reduce its capacity to protect
and the risk of injury increases.

The seat backrests of the front seats must not be tilted too far to the rear
otherwise the seatbelts can lose their effectiveness.

The belt webbing must always be ke pt clean. Soiled belt webbing may
impair proper operation of the inertia reel page 211, “Seat belts”.

The slot of the belt tongue must not be blocked by paper or similar objects
otherwise the belt tongue will not lock in place properly.

Inspect the seat belts regula rly to ensure they are in good condition. If you
find seat belts which have damage to the seat belt webbing, seat belt connec-
tions, to the inertia reels or to the lock, the relevant safety belt must be replaced
by a specialist garage.

The seat belts must not be removed or changed in any way. Do not make an
attempt to repair the seat belts yourself.

Damaged seat belts which have been subjected to stress in an accident and
were therefore stretched, must be replaced - this is best done by a specialist
garage. The anchorage points of the belts must also be inspected. The
anchorage points for the belts should also be checked.

In certain countries it is possible to use seat belts which differ in terms of
their operation from the seat belts which are described on the pages which
follow.WARNING (continued)
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Seat belts167
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
How are seat belts correctly fastened?Fastening three-point seat belts
Fasten your seat belt before starting!Fig. 150 Routing of belt webbing over the sh oulders and the lap belt / Routing of belt
webbing for an expectant mother– Correctly adjust the front seat and the head restraint before fastening your seat belt
 page 84.
– Slowly pull the belt webbing at the tongue of the lock over your chest and pelvis
 .
– Insert the tongue of the lock into the seat belt buckle belonging to the seat until it is heard to lock in place.
– Pull on the belt to check that it has also reliably engaged in the lock.
Each three-point seat belt is equipped with an inertia reel. This inertia reel offers you
complete freedom of movement if the belt is unreeled slowly. If the brakes are applied
suddenly, the inertia reel will block. It also blocks the belts when the car accelerates,
when driving uphill and when cornering.
Expectant mothers must also wear the seat belt .
WARNING

The shoulder part of the seat belt must never run across your neck but must
run approximately over the middle of the shoulder and fit snugly against the chest. The lap part of the belt must r
un across the hip and must never be routed
across the stomach. It must always fit snugly fig. 150 - left. Adjust the belt
webbing as required.

The lap part of the belt should be posi tioned as low as possible at the pelvis
of an expectant mother in order to avoid exerting any pressure on the lower
abdomen fig. 150 - right.

Always ensure that the webbing of the seat belts is properly routed. Seat
belts which are not correctl y adjusted can themselves cause injuries even in
minor accidents.

A seat belt which is hanging too loose can result in injuries as your body is
moved forward by the kinetic energy pr oduced in an accident and is then
suddenly held firm by the belt.

Only insert the lock tongue into the lock which is the correct one for your
seat. This will affect the protection which the belt offers and increase the risk of
an injury.
Seat belt height adjusterThe seat belt height adjuster makes it possible for you to adapt the routing of the three-
point seat belt in the area of the shoulder to match your body size.
– Move the height adjuster in the desired direction up or down fig. 151 .
– Then pull firmly on the belt to ensure that the seat belt height adjuster has correctly
locked in place.
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 151 Front seat: Seat belt height
adjuster
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Seat belts
168WARNING
Adjust the height of the belt in such a way that the shoulder part of the belt is
positioned approximately across the middle of your shoulder - on no account
across your neck.
Note
It is also possible to adapt the routing of the belt webbing at the front seats by adjusting
the height of the seat.Taking seat belts off– Press the red button in the belt lock fig. 152 . The spring force causes the tongue
of the lock to jump out.
– Guide the belt back with your hand to en able the inertia reel to wind up the belt
webbing more easily.
A plastic knob in the belt webbing holds the be lt tongue in a position which is easy to
get hold of.Three-point safety belt for the middle rear seatYour car is equipped as standard with the three-point seat belt in the middle rear seat.
It i s us ed i n the sam e way as the thre e-poi nt 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 85.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 protection af forded by the airbag system.
The three-point seat belts are automatically te nsioned in the event of a frontal collision
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 re els during deployment. The belt webbing is
pulled into the inertia reels by a mechanical system and the belt is tensioned.
The belt tensioners are not ac tivated in case of minor frontal and rear-end collisions,
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 the 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 accident.
If the belt tensioners have been deployed, it is then necessary to replace the
entire system.

The Owner's Manual must also be handed 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 indica-
tion of a fire in the vehicle.
Fig. 152 Releasing lock tongue from
belt lock
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Seat belts169
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data

It is essential to pay attent ion to relevant safety regulations if the vehicle or indi-
vidual parts of the system are scrapped. Specialist garages are familiar with these regu-
lations and will be able to provide you with detailed information in this respect.

When disposing of vehicle or parts of the system, it is important to comply with the
national legal requirements.
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Airbag system
170
Airbag systemDescription of the airbag systemGeneral information on the airbag systemThe front airbag system is complementary to the three-point seat belts and offers addi-
tional protection for the head and chest area of the driver and passenger in the event
of a frontal collision.
In the case of a violent side cr ash, the side* and head airbags* reduce the risk of inju-
ries to the occupants on the side of the collision .
The airbag system is only functional af ter the ignition has been switched on.
The operational readiness of the airbag syst em is monitored electronically. The airbag
indicator light comes on for a few seconds each time the ignition is switched on.
The airbag system (according to vehicle equipment) consists of:
an electronic control unit,

the front airbags for the driver and front passenger,

driver's knee airbag*,

front side airbags,

Rear side airbags*,

head airbags*,

an airbag indicator light in the instrument cluster,

a front passenger airbag switch*,

an indicator light for a switched off fron t seat passenger airbag* in the middle of
the dash panel.
A fault in the airbag system exists if:

the airbag indicator light does not light up when the ignition is switched on,

the warning light does not go out after about 4 seconds after the ignition is
switched on,

the airbag indicator light goes out and come s on again after the ignition is switched
on,

the airbag indicator light comes on or flickers when driving,

an airbag indicator light showing a switched-off front passenger airbag* in the
middle of the dash panel flashes.
WARNING

To enable the occupants of a vehicle to be protected with the greatest
possible effect when the airbag is deployed, the front seats must be
 page 162, “Correct seated position” correctly adjusted to match the body
size of the occupant.

If you do not fasten the seat belts when driving, lean too far forward or
adopt an incorrect seated position, you are exposing yourself to increased risk
of injury in the event of an accident.

Have the airbag system checked immediat ely by a specialist garage if a fault
exists. Otherwise, there is a risk of the airbag not being activated in the event of
an accident.

No modifications of any kind may be made to parts of the airbag system.

It is prohibited to manipulate individual parts of the airbag system as this
might result in the airbag being deployed.

The protective function of the airbag system is sufficient for only one acci-
dent. The airbag system must then be re placed if the airbag has been deployed.

The airbag system needs no maintenance during its working life.

If you sell your car, please hand over the complete vehicle documentation to
the new owener. Please note that the documents relating to the possibility of
deactivating the front passenger airbag are also part of the vehicle documents!

If the vehicle or individual parts of the airbag system are scrapped, it is
essential to observe the relevant safety precautions. The authorised Škoda
Service Partners are familiar with these regulations.

When disposing of vehicle or parts of the airbag system, it is important to
comply with the national legal requirements.
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Airbag system171
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
When are the airbags deployed?The airbag system is designed in such a wa y that the driver and front passenger airbag
are deployed in the event of a violent frontal collision.
In the case of a violent side crash , the front side airbag* on the side of the car at which
the collision occurs, is depl oyed together with the rear side airbag and the head
airbag*.
In special cases, the front as well as th e relevant side and head airbags may be
deployed together.
The airbags are not deployed in the case of minor frontal and side collisions, in the
case of rear-end collisi ons and vehicle rollover.
Deployment factors
It is not possible to state globally which deployment conditions apply to the airbag
system in every situation as the circumstances which exist in the case of accidents vary
greatly. An important role in this case is played by factors such as the type of object
against which the vehicle impacts (hard, soft ), the angle of impact, the relative speed
during the accident etc.
A decisive factor for the deployment of the airbags is the deceleration which occurs
during a collision. The control unit analyses the nature of the collision and activates the
relevant restraint system. If the vehicle deceleration which occurs and is measured
during the collision remains below the prescribed reference values specified in the
control unit, the airbags are no t deployed although the vehicle may well suffer severe
damage to the bodywork as a consequence of the accident.
The airbags are not deployed if:
ignition off,

a minor frontal collision,

a minor side collision,

a rear-end collision,

Rollover of the vehicle.
Note

A grey white, non harmful gas is released wh en airbag is inflated. This is perfectly
normal and is not an indicati on of a fire in the vehicle.

The dash panel must be replaced afte r the front passenger airbag has been
deployed.

In the event of an accident in which the airbags are deployed:
 The interior lighting comes on (if the switch for the interior light is in the door
contact position),
 The hazard warning light is switched on,
 All the doors are unlocked,
 the battery in the luggage compartment* is switched off,
 the fuel supply to the engine is interrupted.
Front airbagsDescription of the front airbags
The airbag system is not a su bstitute for the seat belt!Fig. 153 Driver airbag in th e steering wheel / front passenger airbag in the dash panelThe front airbag for the driver is housed in the steering wheel fig. 153 - left. The front
airbag for the front passenger is housed in the dash panel above the storage compart-
ment fig. 153 - right. The installation positions are each marked with the “AIRBAG”
logo.
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Airbag system
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The front airbag system, in combination with three-point safety belts, offers additional
protection for the head and chest area of the driver and front passenger in the event of
a frontal collision of major severity  in “Important safety information regarding
the front airbag system” on page 172.
The airbag is not a substitute for the seat belt, but is part of the complete passive
vehicle safety concept. Please note that an airbag can only offer you optimal
protection in combination with a seat belt which is fastened .
Apart from their normal protective function, a further task of the seat belts is to also
hold the driver and front passenger in a correct seated position in the event of a frontal
collision so as to enable the front ai rbags to offer the maximum protection.
You should therefore always fasten the seat be lts, not only because this is required by
law, but also for safety reasons and for your own protection page 165, “Why seat
belts?”.
Note
The dash panel must be replaced after the front passenger airbag has been
deployed.Function of the front airbags
Risk of injury to the head and ches t area is reduced by fully inflated
airbags.The airbag system is designed in such a way that the driver and the front passenger
airbag* are deployed in the event of a frontal collision of major severity. In certain accident situations, the front, si
de and head airbag are deployed together.
If the airbags are deployed, the airbags are filled with a propellant gas and inflated in
front of the driver and front passenger fig. 154 . The airbags inflate in fractions of a
second and at a high speed in order to be able to offer that additional protection in the
event of an accident. The forward movement of the driver and of the front passenger
i s c us h i o n e d w h e n th e y m a ke co n t a c t w i t h t h e f u l l y i n f l a t e d a i r ba g a n d th e r i s k o f i n j u r y
to head and chest is thus reduced.
The specially developed airbag allows the gas to flow out of the inflated airbag in a
controlled manner (depending on the load of the particular car occupant) in order to
cushion head and chest areas. The airbag then deflates subsequently to such an extent,
after an accident, to again provide a clear view forward.
A grey white, non harmful gas is released when airbag is inflated. This is perfectly
normal and is not an indicati on of a fire in the vehicle.
The airbag develops enormous forces when triggered, which can lead to injuries if the
sitting position or seated position is not correct  in “Important safety information
regarding the front airbag system”.
Important safety information regarding the front airbag system
Correct use of the airbag system cons iderably reduces the risk of injury!
WARNING

Never transport children on the front seat of a vehicle without using a
proper restraint system. If airbags are de ployed in the event of an accident, the
child might suffer severe or even fatal injuries!
Fig. 154 Inflated airbags
Fig. 155 Safe distance to steering wheel
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