8
SAFETY
142
The driver must ensure that passen-
gers use the seat belts correctly and
that they are all restrained securely
before setting off.
Wherever you are seated in the ve-
hicle, always fasten your seat belt,
even for short journeys.
Do not interchange the seat belt
buckles as they will not fulfi l their role
fully.
The seat belts are fi tted with an inertia
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 part must be positioned in
the hollow of the shoulder.
The inertia reels are fi tted with an au-
tomatic locking device which comes
into operation in the event of a colli-
sion, emergency braking or if the ve-
hicle rolls over. You can release the
device by pulling fi rmly 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 converted or modifi ed to
avoid affecting its performance.
In accordance with current safety
regulations, for all repairs on your ve-
hicle, go to a qualifi ed workshop with
the skills and equipment needed,
which a CITROËN dealer is able to
provide.
Have your seat belts checked regu-
larly by a CITROËN dealer or a
qualifi ed workshop, particularly 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 pas-
senger is less than 12 years old or
shorter than one and a half metres.
Never use the same seat belt to se-
cure more than one person.
Never allow a child to travel on your
lap.
In the event of an impact
Depending on the nature and se-
riousness of the impact
, the pre-
tensioning device may be deployed
before and independently of the
airbags. Deployment of the preten-
sioners is accompanied by a slight
discharge of harmless smoke and
a noise, due to the activation of the
pyrotechnic cartridge incorporated in
the system.
In all cases, the airbag warning lamp
comes on.
Following an impact, have the seat
belts system checked, and if neces-
sary replaced, by a CITROËN dealer
or a qualifi ed workshop.
8
SAFETY
143
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 de-
tectors record and analyse the front
and side impacts sustained in the im-
pact detection zones:
- in the case of a serious impact, the
airbags are triggered instantly and
protect the occupants of the vehicle
(with the exception of the rear cen-
tre passenger); immediately after the
impact, the airbags defl ate 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 certain roll-over conditions, the
airbags will not be triggered; the
seat belt alone is suffi cient to pro-
vide 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 subse-
quent accident), the airbag will
not be triggered again.
A.
Front impact zone.
B.
Side impact zone.
Impact detection zones
Triggering of the airbag(s) is ac-
companied by a slight emission
of harmless smoke and a noise,
due to the activation of the pyro-
technic cartridge incorporated in
the system.
This smoke is not harmful, but
sensitive individuals may experi-
ence slight irritation.
The noise of the detonation may
result in a slight loss of hearing
for a short time.
Front airbags
System which protects the driver and
front passenger in the event of a seri-
ous front impact in order to limit the risk
of injury to the head and thorax.
The driver's airbag is fi tted in the centre
of the steering wheel; the front passen-
ger's airbag is fi tted in the dashboard
above the glove box.
Deployment
The airbags are deployed simultaneously,
unless the passenger's front airbag is de-
activated, in the event of a serious front
impact to all or part 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 infl ates between the tho-
rax and head of the front occupant of the
vehicle and the steering wheel, driver's
side, and the dashboard, passenger's side
to cushion their forward movement.