2011 SKODA OCTAVIA TOUR belt

Seat belts
86
T h e c o m m o n o p i n i o n t h a t i t i s p o s s i b l e t o s u p p o r t y o u r b o d y i n a m i n o r a c c i d e n t w i t h
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, occupa nts of the vehicle not wearing a seat belt,
are thrown forward and strike in an uncont rolled way parts of the interior of the
vehicle, such as steering wheel, dash panel, windscreen, page 85, fig. 91 - left.
The occupants 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 occupa nts fasten their seat belts as they will
otherwise be thrown through the vehicle in an uncontrolled manner in the event of
an accident A rear seat pa ssenger who has not fastened the seat belt is a danger
not only to himself but also for those seated at the front page 85, fig. 91 - right.Important safety information regarding the use of seat beltsThe correct use of the seat belts considerably 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 87.
•
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 82, “Correct seated position”.
•
The belt webbing must not run across so lid or fragile objects (e.g. spectacles,
ball-point pens, keys etc.) as th is 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 pr oper operation of the seat belts.
•
It is prohibited to use clamps or othe r 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 kept clean. A soiled belt webbing may
impair proper operation of the inertia reel page 126, “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 regularly to ensure they are in good condition. If you
find seat belts which have damage to th e seat belt webbing, seat belt connec-
tions, to the inertia reels or to the lock, t h e r e l e v a n t s a f e t y b e l t m u s t b e r e p l a c e d
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 wh ich are described on the pages which
follow.WARNING (continued)
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Seat belts87
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. 92 Routing of webbing over the shoulders and the lap belt– Correctly adjust the front seat and the he ad restraint before fastening your seat
belt page 50.
– 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 seat 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 seat belts when the
car accelerates, when driving uphill and when cornering.
Expectant mothers must also wear seat belts .
WARNING
•
The shoulder part of the seat belt must never run across your neck but must
run approximately over the middle of th e shoulder and fit snugly against the
chest. The lap part of the belt must run across the hip and must never be routed
across the stomach. It must always fit snugly page 87, fig. 92 - left. Adjust the
belt webbing as required.
•
The lap part of the belt should be positi oned as low as possible at the pelvis
of an expectant mother in order to avoid exerting any pressure on the lower
abdomen page 87, fig. 92 - right.
•
Always ensure that the webbing of the seat belts is properly routed. Seat
belts which are not correctly adjusted c an 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 th e b el t of f ers a n d i n c rea s e th e ri sk of
an injury.
Seat belt height adjusterThe seat belt height adjuster makes it po ssible 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. 93 .
– Then pull firmly on the belt to ensure that the seat belt height adjuster has correctly locked in place.
WARNING
Adjust the height of the belt in such a wa y that the shoulder part of the belt is
positioned approximately ac ross the middle of your shoulder - on no account
across your neck.
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 93 Front seat: Seat belt height
adjuster
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Seat belts
88Note
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. 94 . The spring force causes the
tongue of the lock to jump out.
– Guide the seat 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 standard with the three-point seat belt in the middle rear
seat. It is used in the same way as the th ree-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 51.
Belt tensionersSafety for the driver and front passenger wearing their seat belts is enhanced by
the belt tensioners fitted to the inertia reel s of the front three-point seat belts, and
is a supplement to the protection 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 mechan ical 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 si de 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 belt tensioner and the seat belt, 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 belt te nsioner is only adequate for a single
accident. If the belt tensioners have b een 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 tensioners are deployed. This is not an indi-
cation of a fire in the vehicle.
•
It is essential to pay attention to releva nt safety regulations if the vehicle or
individual parts of the system are scrapped. Specialist garages are familiar with
these regulations which can be reviewed there.
•
When disposing of vehicle or parts of the system, it is important to comply with
the national legal requirements.
Fig. 94 Releasing lock tongue from belt
lock
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Airbag system89
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Airbag systemDescription of the airbag systemGeneral information on the airbag systemThe front airbag system is complementary to the three-point seat belts and offers
additional protection for the head and ches t area of the driver and passenger in the
event of a frontal collision.
In the case of a violent side crash, the si de airbags* and head airbags* reduce the
risk of injuries to the occupant s on the side of the collision .
The airbag system is only functional after the ignition has been switched on.
The operational readiness of the airbag system 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,
•
front airbag for the driver and the front seat passenger*,
•
side airbags*,
•
head airbags*,
•
an airbag warning light in the instrument cluster,
•
a key-operated switch for switching on /off the front seat passenger airbag*
 page 96,
•
an indicator light for a switched off front seat passenger airbag* in the middle
of the dash panel page 96.
A fault in the airbag system exists if:
•
the airbag indicator light does not light up when the ignition is switched on,
•
the airbag indicator light does not go ou t after about 4 seconds after the ignition
is switched on,
•
the airbag indicator light goes out and comes on again after the ignition is
switched on,
•
the airbag indicator light comes on or flickers when driving,
•
an airbag indicator light showing a swit ched-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 depl oyed, the front seats must be correctly
adjusted to match the body size of the occupant page 82, “Correct seated
position”.
•
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 immediately 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 individu al 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 replaced 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 owner. Please note that the do cuments 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.
When are the airbags deployed?The airbag system is designed in such a way that the driver and front passenger
airbag are deployed in the event of a violent frontal collision .
In the case of a violent side collision , the side airbag* on the side of the vehicle at
which the collision occurs, is deployed together with the relevant head airbag*.
In special accident scenarios, the front as well as the relevant side and head airbags
may be deployed together.
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Airbag system
90
The airbags are not deployed in the case of minor frontal and side collisions, in the
case of rear-end collisions 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 rela-
tive speed during the accident etc.
A decisive factor for the deployment of th e 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 meas-
ured during the collision remains below the prescribed reference values specified in
the control unit, the airbags are not 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 when airbag is inflated. This is
perfectly normal and is not an indi cation of a fire in the vehicle.
•
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 fuel supply to the engine is interrupted.
Front airbagsDescription of the front airbags
The airbag system is not a substitute for the seat belt!Fig. 95 Driver airbag in the steering wheel /front passenger airbag in the dash panelThe front airbag for the driver is housed in the steering wheel fig. 95 - left. The
front airbag for the front passenger* is housed in the dash panel above the storage
compartment fig. 95 - right. The installation positions are each marked with the
“AIRBAG” logo.
The front airbag system is complementary to the three-point seat belts and offers
additional protection for the head and chest area of the driver and passenger in the
event of a frontal collision. page 91
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 i s t o a l s o
hold the driver and front passenger in a co rrect seated position in the event of a
frontal collision so as to enable the fron t airbags to offer the maximum protection.
You should therefore always fasten the seat belts, not only because this is required
by law, but also for safety reasons and for your own protection page 85, “Why
seat belts?”.
Note
The dash panel must be replaced after the front passenger airbag has been
deployed.
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Airbag system
92
a t t a c h e d t o t h e c o v e r s o f t h e a i r b a g m o d u l e s o r b e l o c a t e d w i t h i n t h e i m m e d i a t e
area.•
No modifications of any kind may be ma de to parts of the airbag system. Any
work on the airbag system including installing and removing system compo-
nents because of other repair work (e.g. removing the steering wheel) must only
be carried out by a specialist garage.
•
Never carry out changes on the front bumper or on the body.
•
Never place any objects on the surface of the front passenger airbag module
in the dash panel.
side airbags*Description of the side airbags
The side airbag together with the head airbag offers enhanced
occupant protection in the event of a side collision.The front side airbags are housed in the upholstery of the seat backrests of the
front seats fig. 98 .
The side airbag system in combination with the three-point seat belts, offers addi-
tional protection for the upper area of th e body (chest, stomach and pelvis) of the
occupants of the vehicle in the event of severe side collisions page 93.
Apart from their normal protective function, a further task of the seat belts is to also
hold the occupants of the front or rear exterior seats in position so as to enable the
side airbag to offer the maximum protection in the event of a side collision. You should therefore always fasten the seat
belts, not only because this is required
by law, but also for safety reasons and for your own protection.
Each time the side airbags are deployed , the head airbag* and the front belt
tensioner on the side of the car on whic h the collision occurs, are automatically
deployed at the same time in order to provide the occupant with enhanced
protection.
Function of the side airbags
Risk of injury to the upper part of the body is reduced by fully inflated
side airbags.When the side airbags are deployed, the head airbag* and the belt tensioner are
also automatically deployed on the relevant side fig. 99 .
If an airbag is deployed, the airbag is fille d with gas. 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.
A grey white, non harmful gas is released when airbag is inflated. This is perfectly
normal and is not an indication of a fire in the vehicle.
The load of the occupants is cushioned when plunging into the fully inflated airbag
and the risk of injury to the entire upper body (chest, stomach and pelvis) is reduced
on the side facing the door.
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 98 Installation position of side
airbag in driver seat
Fig. 99 Inflated side airbag
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Airbag system
94
Head airbags*Description of the head airbags
The head airbag together with the side airbag offers enhanced
occupant protection in the event of a side collision.The head airbags are positioned above the d oors on both sides in the interior of the
car page 94, fig. 100 . The installation positions are each marked with the
“AIRBAG” logo.
The head airbag together with the three- point seat belts and the side airbags,
offers additional protection for the head and neck area of the occupants in the
event of a side collision of major severity page 95.
Apart from their normal protective function, a further task of the seat belts is to also
hold the driver and the occupants in a correct seated position in the event of a side
collision so as to enable the head airb ags to offer the maximum protection. You
should therefore always fasten the seat belts, not only because this is required by
law, but also for safety reasons and for your own protection page 85, “Why seat
belts?”.
Together with other elements (such as cross bars in the seats, stable vehicle struc-
ture) the head airbags are the consequent further development of occupant protec-
tion in the case of side collisions.
Function of the head airbag
The risk of injury to the head and neck area is reduced in the event
of a side collision by fully inflated head airbags.I n t h e c a s e o f a side collision the head airbag is deployed together with the relevant
side airbag fig. 101 and the belt tensioner on the side of the car on which the acci-
dent occurs.
If the system is deployed, the airbags are filled with propellant gas and extend over
the entire area of the side wi ndow including the door pillar fig. 101 .
The protection offered by the head airbag is thus available simultaneously both to
the front occupants of the car seated on th e side on which the accident occurs, as
well as to the rear occupants. Any impact of the head against parts of the interior or
objects outside of the car, is cushioned by the inflated head airbag. The reduction in
any impact to the head and the resultant minimizing of any movements of the head
additionally reduce the risk of injuries to the neck area. The head airbag also offers
additional protection in the ca se of an offset impact by covering the front door pillar.
In certain accident situations, the front, side and head airbag are deployed simulta-
neously.
The airbags inflate in fraction s of a second and at a high speed in order to be able
to offer that additional protection in th e event of an accident. A grey white, non
harmful gas is released when airbag is infl ated. This is perfectly normal and is not
an indication of a fire in the vehicle.
Fig. 100 Installation position of head
airbag
Fig. 101 Inflated head airbag
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Transporting children safely97
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Transporting children safelyWhat you should know about transporting children!An introduction to the subject
Accident statistics have revealed that children are generally more
safely transported on the rear se ats than on the front passenger
seat.Children younger than 12 years of age should normally travel on the rear seat of the
vehicle (take note of any national legal pr ovisions which differ from this). They
should be secured there by means of a child restraint system or by using the
existing seat belts depending on their age, body size and weight. The child seat
should be mounted behind the front passenger seat for safety reasons.
The physical principle of an accident does, of course, also apply to children
 page 85, “The physical principle of a frontal collision”. They differ from adults in
that their muscles and bone structure of children are not yet fully developed. Thus
children are exposed to increased risk of injury.
Children should be transported by using special child safety seats in order to reduce
this risk of injury.
Use only child safety seats which are official ly approved and are suitable for children
and which comply with the ECE-R 44 standard . Child safety seats are classified in 5
groups page 99. Child restraint systems which have been tested for conformity
to ECE-R 44 standard have a non-detachable test seal (a large E within a circle and
below this the test number) attached to the seat.
We recommend that you use child safety se ats from the Škoda genuine accessories.
These child seats were developed and also tested for use in Škoda vehicles. They
fulfil the ECE-R 44 standard.
WARNING
Always comply with legal provisions and instructions from the relevant child
safety seat manufacturer when installing and using the child seat page 97.
Note
Any varying national legal regulations take priority over the information provided in
these instructions for use, or stated in this chapter.
Important safety information regarding the use of child safety seats
Correct use of child safety seats considerably reduces the risk of
injury!
WARNING
•
All the occupants of the car - in particul ar children - must wear a seat belt
when the car is moving.
•
Children, who are less than 1.50 m in he ight and who weigh less than 36 kg,
must not use a normal seat belt without a child restraint system otherwise this
may result in injuries to the stomach and neck areas. Comply with the national
legal requirements.
•
One should never carry children, and also not babies! - on one's lap.
•
You can transport a child safely in a suitable child safety seat page 99,
“Child seat”!
•
Only one child may be fastened with a seat belt into a child safety seat.
•
Never leave the child sitting unattended in the seat.
•
Certain outside climatic conditions c an cause life-threatening temperatures
in the vehicle.
•
Never allow your child to be transported in a vehicle without the use of a
suitable restraint system.
•
Children should also never stand up in a vehicle or kneel on the seats when
the vehicle is moving. In the event of an accident the child will be thrown
through the vehicle and may as a result suffer fatal injuries, and also injure other
occupants.
•
Children are exposed to an increased risk of injury in the event of an accident
if they lean forward or adopt an incorrec t seated position when the vehicle is
moving. This particularly applies to ch ildren who are transported on the front
passenger seat if the airbag system deploys in the event of an accident. This can
result in severe or even fatal injuries.
•
It is important that the belt webbing is properly routed if the seat belts are
to offer their maximum protection page 87, “How are seat belts correctly
fastened?”. Pay particular attention to the information prov ided by the manu-
facturer of the child safety seat regarding correct routing of the belt. Seat belts
which are not correctly adjusted can them selves cause injuries even in minor
accidents.
s2lk.2.book Page 97 Monday, April 18, 2011 7:41 AM