2015 AUDI A3 CABRIOLET airbag

76 Driving
Driving
Steering
Adjusting the steering wheel position
The steering wheel position is fully adjustable
up and down and forward and bock .
Fig. 78 Steering column: stee ring column adjustmen t
lever
.. Tilt the lever ¢ fig. 78 downward ¢ &_.
.. Bring the steering wheel into the desired
position .
.. Push the lever against the steering column
until it latches .
_& WARNING
Incorrect use of the steer ing whee l adjust­
ment and an incorrect seating position can
cause serious injuries.
- Only adjust the steering column when
the vehicle is stationary so that you do
not Lose control of the vehicle.
- Adjust the driver's seat or steering wheel
so that there is at least 10 inches
(25 cm) distance between your chest and
the steering wheel
r=.> page 12 7,
fig. 123. If you do not maintain this dis­
tance, the airbag system will not be able
to provide its full protection
<=> page 127, fig. 123.
- If your physical characteristics prevent
you from sitting at least 10 inches
(25 cm) or more away from the steering
wheel, see if your authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Fac ility can
provide adapters that will help.
- If your face is level with the steering
wheel, the airbag does not provide as much protection during a collision. Al­
ways make sure that the steering wheel
is level with your chest .
- Always hold the steering wheel with your
hands in the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock posi­
tions to reduce the risk of injury if the
airbag deploys.
- Never hold the steering wheel in the 12
o'clock position or with both hands on
the rim or the center of the steering
wheel. Holding the steering wheel incor­
rectly significantly increases the r isk of
injury to the hands, arms and head if the
airbag deploys.
Starting and stopping
the engine (vehicles
with an ignition lock)
Starting the engine with the key
Applies to vehicles: wit h mechanical ignition loc k
The ignition is switched on and the engine
started with the key in the ignition.
Fig. 79 Ignit ion key positions
Steering lock
If the steering wheel will not turn, the steer­
ing lock is engaged.
To engage the steering wheel Lock: The selec­
tor lever must be in the P position.
"' To engage the steering wheel lock, turn the
wheel until it locks when the ignition key is
removed .
"' To release the steering wheel Lock, insert
the key in the ignition lock and turn the key
in the -direction of the arrow-whi le turning
the steering wheel. ""

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Audi pre sense Introduction
Applies to vehicles: with Audi pre se nse basic or Aud i pre
sense front
W ithin the limits of the system, pre sense ba­
sic and pre sense front can initiate steps to
protect vehicle occupants in certa in danger­
ous situations.
Critical driving situat ions can be recognized by
the pre sense front via a network of different
veh icle systems and can take steps to prepare
the vehicle occupants for a potentia l co llision.
The pre sense front wo rks with a radar sensor
and a video camera*.
It also functions within
the limits of the system when adaptive cruise
control* is switched off.
General information
General information
Applies to vehicles: with Audi pre sense front or Audi adaptive cruise control
A WARNING
Also follow the general information found
on
~ page 8 7, General information.
Audi pre sense basic
Description
Applies to vehicles : with Audi pre se nse basic
The function of the pre sense basic is activat­
ed at a speed of 20 mph (30 km/h) or higher.
The following functions can be triggered un­
der certain conditions within the limits of the
system:
- T ensioning of the safety be lts (for example,
during heavy braking) : The front safety belts
have reversible belt pretensioners. If a colli­
s ion does not occur, the safety belts loosen
slight ly and are ready to trigger again .
- Closing the windows (for example, if under­
or oversteering): The windows close until
there is only a small gap open.
Audi pre sense 95
Audi drive select: The dep loyment time is
adapted in dynamic mode.
A WARNING
The pre sense basic cannot overcome natu­ ral physical laws. It is a system designed to
assist and it cannot prevent a collis ion. Do
not let the increased safety provided
tempt you into taking risks. This could in­
crease your r isk of a collis ion.
- The system can deploy incorrectly due to
system-specific limits.
(D Tips
- Certa in pre sense bas ic functions switch
off when ESC is switched off (sport
mode) or when dr iving in reverse.
- The pre sense basic functions may not be
available if there is a ma lfunction in the
ESC system or the airbag control mod­
ule.
- Note that with pre sense bas ic, the rever­
sible safety belt pretensioner on the
front passenger's side deactivates when
t he fron t passenger's airbag is deactivat­
ed.
Audi pre sense front
Description
Applies to vehicles : wit h Audi pre sense front or Audi
adaptive crui se con trol
Pre sense front informs you if the distance to
the vehicle ahead falls below the safe distance
for an extended period of time. It can warn of
a possible collision and initiate braking ma­ neuvers, within the limits of the system.
When detected in time, the system can assess
dangerous situat ions where an object ahead
brakes suddenly or if your own veh icle is trav­
el ing at a high speed and approaching an ob ­
ject that is moving more slow ly . If detection is
not poss ible, then pre sense front does not re­
act.
•

126 Driving saf ety
Driving safety
General notes
Safe driving habits
Please remember -safety first!
This chapter contains important information,
tips, instructions and warnings that you need
to read and observe for your own safety, the
safety of your passengers and others . We have
summarized here what you need to know
about safety belts, a irbags, ch ild restra ints as
well as child safety. Your safety is for us
priori­
ty number 1.
Always observe the info rmat ion
and warn ings in th is sect ion -fo r yo ur own
safety as well as that of your passengers .
The information in this se ction app lies to all
model ve rsions of your veh icle . Some of the
feat ures described in this sec tions may be
standard equipment on some models, or may
be optional equipment on others . If you are
not sure, ask your authorized Audi dealer.
A WARNING
- Always make sure that you follow the in­
struct ions and heed the WARNINGS in
this Manual. It is in your interest and in
the inte rest of you r passengers.
- Always keep the complete Owner's Liter­
ature in your Audi when you lend or sell
yo ur vehicle so that this important info r­
mation will always be ava ilable to the
dr iver and passengers.
- Always keep the Owner's literature handy
so that you can find i t eas ily if you have
ques tions.
- Always adjust your speed to the weather
traffi c and conditions. Follow the speed
limits.
- Always drive in su ch a way that you can
stop your vehicle sa fely .
- Always adjus t your speed to the general
flow of traffic. Fo llow the speed limits.
Safety equipment
The safety features are part of the occupant
restraint system and work together to help
reduce the risk of injury in a wide variety of
accident situations.
Your safety a nd the safety of your passengers
shou ld not be left to chance . Advances in
tec hno logy have made a variety of features
ava ilable to help reduce the r is k of injury in an
a cciden t. T he following is a lis t of just a few of
the safety features in yo ur Audi:
- sophisticated safety be lts fo r d rive r and all
passe nger sea ting posit io ns,
- safety b elt pretens ioners,
- safety belt force lim iters fo r the front seats,
- front airbags,
- knee airbags for the front seats*
- side airbags in the front seats,
- specia l LATCH anchorages for child re -
s traints,
- he ad restr aints for e ach sea ting pos ition,
- ad justab le steeri ng colum n.
- pre sense basic* (preventat ive passenger
protect ion)
These ind iv idual safety features, can work to­
gether as a system to he lp p rotect you and
yo ur passengers in a wide range of accidents .
T hese features cannot work as a system if
t h ey a re not always cor re ct ly adjusted and co r­
re ct ly used .
Safety is everybody' s re sponsibility!
Important things to do before driving
Safety is everybody 's job! Vehicle and occu­
pant safety always depends on the informed and careful driver .
For your safety and the safety of your passen­
gers,
before driving always:
.. Make s ure that all lights and signa ls are op­
erating correctly .
.. Make sure that the tire pressure is correct .
.. Make sure that all windows are clean and af -
ford good vis ibility to the outs ide . ..,_

....,
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.. Secure all luggage and other items carefully
r=> page 65, r::!;>page 65.
.. Make sure that nothing can interfere w ith
the pedals .
.. Adjust front seat, head restraint and mirrors
correct ly for your height .
.. Instruct passengers to adjust the head re­
stra ints according to their height .
.,. Make sure to use the right child restraint
correctly to protect children
r=> page 169 ,
Child Safety .
.. Sit properly in your seat and make sure that
your passengers do the same
r=:>page 60,
Front seats .
.. Fasten your safety belt and wear it proper ly.
Also instruct your passengers to fasten their
safety belts properly
r=> page 138 .
What impairs driving safety?
Safe driving is directly related to the condi­
tion of the vehicle , the driver as well as the
driver's ability to concentrate on the road
without being distracted.
The driver is responsible for the safety of the
vehicle and all of its occupants. If your ability
to drive is impaired, safety r isks for everybody
in the vehicle increase and you a lso become a
hazard to everyone else on the road
r=> ,&..
Therefore:
.,. Do not let you rself be dist racted by passen­
gers or by us ing a cellular telephone .
.. NEVE R dr ive when yo ur dr iv ing ability is im­
paired (by medicat ions, alcohol, drugs, etc.).
.. Observe all traffic laws, ru les of the road
and speed limits and plain common sense.
.. ALWAYS adjust your speed to road, traffic
and weather conditions .
.. Take frequent breaks on long trips. Do not
drive for more than two hours at a stretch.
.. Do NOT drive when you are t ired, under
pressure or when you are stressed .
A WARNING
Impaired driving safety increases the risk
of serious personal injury and death when­
ever a veh icle is being used.
Driving safety 127
Proper occupant
seating positions
Proper seating position for the driver
The proper driver seating position is impor­
tant for safe, relaxed driving .
Fig. 123 Correct seat ing pos it ion
For your own safety and to reduce the risk of
injury in the event of an accident, we recom­
mend that you adjust the driver's seat to the
follow ing position:
.. Adjust the driver's seat so that you can easi ­
ly push the pedals all the way to the floor
wh ile keeping your knee(s) slightly bent
r::!;> &,.
.. Adjust the angle of the seatback so that it is
in an upr ight position so that your back
comes in full contact w ith it when you drive.
.. Adjust the steering wheel so that th ere is a
distance of at least 10 inches (25 cm) be­
tween the steering wheel and yo ur breast
bone r=:>
fig. 123. If not possible, see your au ­
thorized Audi dealership about adaptive
equipment .
.. Adjust the steering wheel so that the steer­
ing wheel and airbag cover points at your
chest and not at your face .
.,. Grasp the top of the steer ing whee l with
your elbow(s) slightly bent.
.. For adjustable head restra ints: Adjust the
head restraint so the upper edge is as even
as possible with the top of your head. If that
is not possible, try to adjust the head re­
straint so that it is as close to this position
as poss ible. Move the head restraint so that
it is as close to the back of the head as pos-
sible . .,.

128 Driving safety
• Fasten and wear safety belts correctly
9page 141.
• Always keep both feet in the footwell so
that you are in control of the vehicle at all
t ime s.
Fo r detailed information on how to adjust the
driver's seat, see
<=>page 61 .
A WARNING
Drivers who are unbelted, out of position
or too close to the airbag can be seriously
injured by an airbag as it unfolds. To help
reduce the risk of serious personal injury:
- Always adjust the driver's seat and the steering wheel so that there are at least
10 inches (25 cm) between your breast­
bone and the steering wheel.
- Always adjust the driver's seat and the
steering wheel so that there are at least
4 inches (10 cm) between the knees and
the lower part of the instrument panel.
- Always hold the steering wheel on the
outside of the steering wheel rim with
your hands at the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock
positions to help reduce the risk of per­
sonal injury if the driver's airbag inflates.
- Never hold the steering wheel at the
12 o'clock position or with your hands at
other positions inside the steering wheel
rim or on the steering wheel hub. Hold­
ing the steering wheel the wrong way
can cause serious injuries to the hands,
arms and head if the driver's airbag in­
flates.
- Pointing the steering wheel toward your face decreases the ability of the supple­
mental driver's airbag to protect you in a
collision .
- Always sit in an upright position and nev­
er lean against or place any part of your
body too close to the area where the air­
bags are located.
- Before driving, always adjust the front
seats properly and make sure that all
passengers are properly restrained. -
For adjustable head restraints: before
driving, always also adjust the head re­
straints properly.
- Never adjust the seats while the vehicle
is moving. Your seat may move unexpect­
edly and you could lose control of the ve­ hicle .
- Never drive with the backrest reclined or
tilted far back! The farther the backrests
are tilted back, the greater the risk of in­
jury due to incorrect positioning of the safety belt and improper seating posi­
tion .
- Children must always ride in child seats
<=> page 169. Special precautions apply
when installing a child seat on the front
passenger seat <=>
page 146.
Proper seating position for the front
passenger
The proper front passenger seating position
is important for safe, relaxed driving.
For your own safety and to reduce the risk of
injury in the event of an accident, we recom­
mend that you adjust the seat for the front
passenger to the following position:
• Adjust the angle of the seatback so that it is
in an upright position and your back comes
in full contact with it whenever the vehicle is
moving.
• For ad justab le head restra ints: adjust the
head restraint so the upper edge is as even
as possible with the top of your head. If that
is not possible, try to adjust the head re ­
straint so that it is as close to this position
as possible <=>
page 130 . Move the head re­
straint so that it is as close to the back of
the head as possible.
• Keep both feet flat on the floor in front of
the front passenger seat.
• Fasten and wear safety belts correctly
<=> page 141.
For detailed information on how to adjust the
front passenger's seat, see
<=> page 60. ...

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A WARNING ,~ ~
Front seat passengers who are unbelted,
out of posit ion or too close to the airbag
can be seriously injured or k illed by the air­
bag as it unfolds. To help reduce the r isk of
ser ious personal inju ry:
- Passengers must always s it in an upr ight
posit ion and never lean against o r place
any part of their body too close to the
area where the airbags are located.
- Passengers who are unbelted, out of po­
sit ion or too close to the airbag can be
seriously injured by an airbag as it un­
f olds with great force in the blink of an
eye.
- Always make sure that there are at leas t
10 inches (25 cm) between the front
passenger's breastbone and the instru­
ment pane l.
- Always make sure that there are at least
4 inches (10 cm) between the front pas­
senger's knees and the lower part of the
instrument panel.
- Each passenger m ust always s it on a seat
of the ir own and properly fasten and
wea r the safety belt be long ing to that
seat .
- Before driv ing, a lways adjust the front
passenger seat properly .
- For adjustable head restraints : before
dr iv ing, always a lso adjust the head re­
straints properly .
- Always keep your feet on the f loor in
front of the seat . Never rest them on the
seat, instrument panel, out of the win­
dow, etc. The airbag system and safety
belt w ill not be ab le to protec t you prop ­
e rl y and can even incre ase the ris k of in ­
jury in a crash .
- Never drive wi th the backrest recl ined o r
t il ted far bac k! T he farther the backrests
are t ilted back , the greater the ris k of in ­
jury d ue to incorrect positioning of the
safety belt and improper seating posi­
t ion.
- Children must always ride in child seats
¢
page 169. Special precautions apply
Dri ving s afe ty 129
when instal ling a child seat on the front
passenger seat¢
page 146.
Proper seating positions for passengers
in rear seats
Rear sea t passengers mus t sit uprigh t wi th
both fee t on the floor consistent wi th their
physical size and be properly restrained whenever the vehicle is in use .
To reduce the risk of injury caused by an incor­
rect seating posit ion in the event of a sudde n
braking maneuver or an accident, your pas ­
sengers on the rear bench sea t must always
obse rve the following:
... For ad justab le head restra ints: adjust the
head restra int so the uppe r edge is as even
as poss ible with the top of your head . If that
is not poss ible, try to adjus t the head re­
s tr aint so that it is as close to this position
as poss ible
¢ page 130 .
... Keep both feet flat in the footwell in front of
the rear seat .
... Fasten and wea r safety be lts proper ly
¢ page 141 .
... Make sure that children are always properly
restrained in a child restraint that is appro­
pr iate for the ir size and age
¢ page 169.
A WARNING
Passengers w ho are imp roperly seated on
the rea r seat can be se rio usly in jured in a
cr ash.
- Each passenge r must always si t on a seat
of their own and properly fa sten and
wear the safe ty belt belonging to that
seat.
- Safety belts only o ffer maximum pro tec­
tion when the sa fety belts are properly
positioned on the body and securely
latched. By not sitting upr ight, a rear
seat passenger increases the r is k of per­
sonal injury from imp roperly pos itioned
safety belts!
- For ad justab le head restra ints: always
ad just the head restraint properly so that
it can g ive maximum protect ion .
•
•
•

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-never lie down on the rear seat
- never lean up against the instrument pane l
- never sit on the edge of the seat
- never sit s ideways
- never lean out the w indow
- never put your feet out the window
- never put your feet on the instrument panel
- never rest your feet on the seat cushion or
back of the seat
- never ride in the footwell
- never ride in the cargo area
A WARNING
Imprope r seat ing positions increase the
risk of serious personal injury and death
whenever a vehicle is being used.
- Always make sure that all vehicle occu­
pants stay in a proper seating position
and are properly restra ined whenever the
vehicle is being used.
Driver and passenger
side footwell
Important safety instructions
Applies to vehicles: with knee airbags
A WARNING
Always make sure that the knee airbag can
inflate without interference . Objects be­
tween yourself and the airbag can increase
the risk of inju ry in an acc ident by interfer­
ing w ith the way the a irbag deploys or by
being p ushed into you as the airbag de­
ploys .
- No persons (ch ild ren) or animals should
ride in the footwell in front of the pas­
senger seat. If the airbag deploys, this
can res ult in serious or fata l injuries .
- No objects of any k ind sho uld be carried
in the footwe ll area in front of the driv­
er's or passenger's seat . Bulky objects
(shopping bags, for example) can ham­
per or prevent proper deployment of the
airbag . Small objects can be thrown
through the vehicle if the airbag deploys and injure you or your passengers .
-
Driving s afe ty 131
Pedal area
Pedals
The pedals must always be free to move and
must never be interfered with by a floor mat
or any other object.
Make sure that a ll peda ls move free ly without
interfe rence and that nothing prevents them
from return ing to their orig inal positions .
Only use floor mats that leave the pedal area
free and can be secured with floor mat fasten­ ers .
If a brake circ uit fai ls, increased brake pedal
trave l is required to bring the vehicle to a fu ll
stop.
A WARNING
Pedals that cannot move free ly can cause
loss of vehicle control and increase the risk
of ser ious injury.
- Never p lace any objects in the driver's
footwell. An object cou ld get into the
pedal area and inte rfere with pedal func­
tion. In case of sudde n brak ing o r an ac­
cident, yo u wo uld not be able to brake or
accelerate!
- Always ma ke s ure that no thing can fall
or move into the driver's footwel l.
Floor mats on the driver side
Always use floor mats that can be securely
attached to the floor mat fasteners and do
not interfere with the free movement of the
pedals.
"' Ma ke sure t hat the floor mats are prope rly
secured and cannot move and in terfere with
t he peda ls ¢ ..&_ .
Use only floor mats that leave the peda l area
u nobst ructed and th at are firmly secu red so
that they c annot slip o ut of position. You c an
obtain suitab le floor mats from you r autho r­
ized Audi Dealer.
Floor mat fastene rs a re insta lled in your Aud i.
1111>
•
•
•

140 Safety belts
occupant will slam violently into the steering
wheel, instrument panel, windshield, or what­
ever else is in the way
c::> fig. 133. This imp act
with the vehicle interior has all the energy
t hey had just before the crash.
Never rely on a irbags alone for protection.
Even when they deploy, airbags provide only
additional protection. Airbags are not sup­
posed to deploy in all kinds of accidents. Al­
though your Audi is equipped with airbags, all
vehicle occupants, including the driver , must
wear safety belts correctly in order to mini­
mize the risk of severe injury or death in a
crash.
Remember too, that airbags will deploy only
once and that your safety belts are always
there to offer protection in those accidents in
which airbags are not supposed to deploy or
when they have already deployed . Unbelted
occupants can also be thrown out of the vehi­
cle where even more severe or fatal injuries
can occur.
It is also important for the rear passengers to
wear safety belts correctly. Unbelted passen­
gers in the rear seats endanger not only them­
selves but also the driver and othe r passen­
gers ~
fig. 134. In a frontal collision they will
be thrown forward violently, where they can
hit and injure the driver and/or front seat pas­
senger .
Safety belts protect
People think it's possible to use the hands to
brace the body in a minor collision . It's simply
not true !
Fig. 135 Driver is co rr ect ly re strain ed in a sudd en brak­
ing maneuve r
Safety belts used properly can make a big dif­
ference. Safety belts help to keep passengers
in their seats, gradually reduce energy levels
applied to the body in an accident, and help
prevent the uncontrolled movement tha t can
cause serious injuries . In addition, safety belts
reduce the danger of being thrown out of the
vehicle .
Safety belts attach passengers to the car and
give them the benefit of being slowed down
more gently or "softly" through the "give" in
the safety belts, crush zones and other safety
features engineered into today's vehicles. By
"absorbing " the kinetic energy over a longer
period of ti me, the safety belts make the
forces on the body more "tolerable" and less
likely to cause injury.
Although these examples are based on a fron­
tal collision, safety belts can also substantial­
ly reduce the r isk of injury in other kinds of
crashes. So, whether you're on a long trip or
just going to the corner store, always buckle up and make sure others do, too. Accident sta­
tistics show that vehicle occupants properly
wearing safety belts have a lower risk of being
injured and a much better chance of surviving
an accident. Properly using safety belts also
greatly increases the ability of the supplemen­
tal airbags to do their job in a collision . For
this reason, wearing a safety belt is legally re­
quired in most countries including much of
the United States and Canada.
Although your Audi is equipped with airbags,
you still have to wear the safety belts provid­
ed. Front airbags , for example, are activated
only in some frontal collisions. The front air­
bags are not activated in all frontal collisions,
in side and rear collisions, in roll overs or in
cases where there is no t enough decelera tion
through impact to the front of the vehicle .
The same goes for the other airbag systems in
your Audi . So, always wear your safety belt
and make sure everybody in your vehicle is
properly restrained!