2011 Citroen DS3 Owner's Manual

143Safety









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-slip regulation (ASR)
and electronic stability
programme (ESP)

The anti-slip 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 in the instrument panel.

Deactivation

In exceptional conditions (starting 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 in 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 litre
THP 150 and R ACING petrol engines).


)
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 on:


- wheels (tyres and rims),

- braking components,

- electronic components,

- assembly and repair procedures.
After an impact, have these systems
checked by a CITROËN dealer or a
qualified workshop.
If this warning lamp comes on,
accompanied by an audible signal and a
message in the multifunction screen, this
indicates a malfunction of these systems.
Have it checked by a CITROËN dealer or a
qualified workshop.

145Safety
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 or side 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.

147Safety





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 short
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 part 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.

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 short
time.

149Safety















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 fitted in the centre of the
steering wheel; the front passenger's airbag is
fitted in the dashboard above the glove box.
Deployment

The airbags are deployed 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
passenger airbag deactivation switch,

)
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 deployed.


Reactivation

When you remove a child seat that has been
fitted "rear wards facing", turn switch 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 or a qualified
workshop. The passenger's front
airbag may no longer be deployed 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 it checked by a CITROËN dealer
or a qualified workshop.
If this warning lamp comes on in the
instrument panel, accompanied by
an audible warning and a message in
the multifunction screen, contact a CITROËN
dealer or qualified workshop to have the
system checked. The airbags may no longer be
deployed in the event of a serious impact.