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Warning lamp
Incorrectly fastened or unfastened seat belts increase the risk of severe or fatal injuries. Seat belts will only offer the optimum level of protection
when they are fastened and used properly.
Seat belts are the most effective means of reducing the risk of serious and fatal injuries in the event of an accident. Seat belts must always
be fastened properly when the vehicle is in motion to protect the driver and all vehicle occupants.
Before every trip, each vehicle occupant must adopt the correct sitting position, correctly fasten the seat belt belonging to their seat and
keep it fastened properly throughout the trip. This applies to all vehicle occupants and also in urban traffic.
While the vehicle is in motion, secure all children travelling in the vehicle in a restraint system suitable for their weight and height. They must
also wear correctly fastened seat belts → Child seats .
Only start driving when all passengers have correctly fastened their seat belts.
Only ever insert the latch plate into the buckle of the associated seat, and always ensure that it engages properly. Using a buckle that does
not belong to the seat that you are occupying reduces the level of protection and can lead to severe injuries.
Avoid allowing foreign bodies or liquids to enter the slot for the seat belt buckle. This could prevent the belt buckle and seat belt from
working properly.
Never unfasten the seat belt while the vehicle is in motion.
Never allow more than one person to share the same seat belt.
Never travel when children or babies are being carried on somebody's lap and fastened with the same belt.
Never travel wearing loose, bulky clothing (such as an overcoat over a jacket). This could prevent the seat belts from fitting and functioning
properly.
WARNING
Damaged seat belts are very dangerous and can cause severe or fatal injuries.
Never damage the belt by trapping it in the door or in the seat mechanism.
If the belt webbing or any other part of the seat belt becomes damaged, the seat belt may tear during an accident or sudden braking
manoeuvre.
Have damaged seat belts immediately replaced by new seat belts that have been approved by Volkswagen for the vehicle. Seat belts
subjected to stress and stretched during an accident must be replaced by a qualified workshop. Renewal may be necessary even if there is
no apparent damage. The belt anchorage should also be checked.
Never try to repair, modify or remove the seat belts yourself. All repairs to the seat belts, belt retractors and buckles must be carried out by a
qualified workshop.
WARNING

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Fig. 50 Unbelted occupants in a vehicle striking a brick wall
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings →Introduction
The physical principles involved in a frontal collision are relatively simple. As soon as the vehicle is in motion → Fig. 49 , both the moving vehicle
and its passengers gain kinetic energy.
The higher the vehicle speed and the heavier the weight of the vehicle, the greater the amount of energy that will have to be released in the event
of an accident.
However, the most significant factor is the speed of the vehicle. If the speed doubles from approximately 25 km/h (15 mph) to approximately
50 km/h (31 mph), for example, the kinetic energy increases by a factor of four.
The amount of kinetic energy depends on the speed of the vehicle and the weight of the vehicle and passengers. The higher the speed and the
heavier the weight, the greater the amount of energy that will be released in the event of an accident.
Passengers not wearing seat belts are not connected to the vehicle. In the event of a frontal collision they will continue to move forwards at the
same speed at which the vehicle was travelling before impact, until something stops them. Because the passengers in our example are not
restrained by seat belts, the entire amount of kinetic energy will only be released at the point of impact against the wall → Fig. 50 .
Even at speeds of approximately 30 km/h (19 mph) to approximately 50 km/h (31 mph), the forces acting on bodies in a collision can easily
exceed one tonne (1,000 kg). These forces are even greater at higher speeds.
This example applies not only to frontal collisions, but to all accidents and collisions.
What happens to vehicle occupants who have not fastened their seat belts
Fig. 51 An unbelted driver is thrown forwards

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Fig. 52 The unbelted rear passenger is thrown forwards, hitting the belted driver
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings →Introduction
Many people believe that they can brace their weight with their hands in a minor collision. This is not true.
Even at low speeds, the forces acting on the body in a collision are so great that occupants cannot brace themselves with their arms and hands.
In a frontal collision, unbelted vehicle occupants are thrown forward and will make unchecked contact with parts of the vehicle interior, e.g. the
steering wheel, dash panel, or windscreen → Fig. 51 .
The airbag system is not a substitute for the seat belts. When triggered, the airbags only provide additional protection. Airbags are not triggered
in all kinds of accidents. Even if the vehicle is equipped with an airbag system, all vehicle occupants, including the driver, must fasten their seat
belt and wear it correctly while the vehicle is in motion. This reduces the risk of severe or fatal injuries in the event of an accident – regardless of
whether an airbag is fitted for the seat.
Each airbag can only be triggered once. To achieve best possible protection, seat belts must always be worn properly. This also ensures that
protection is provided in accidents in which the airbag is not triggered. Any vehicle occupants not wearing a seat belt can be thrown out of the
vehicle and sustain more severe or even fatal injuries as a result.
It is also important for the rear seat occupants to wear seat belts properly, as they could otherwise be thrown forwards violently in an accident.
Rear passengers who are not wearing seat belts endanger not only themselves and the driver, but also other people in the vehicle → Fig. 52 .
Seat belt protection
Fig. 53 Driver restrained by a properly positioned seat belt during a sudden braking manoeuvre
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings →Introduction

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Combined curtain and side airbags
Fig. 64 A: on lefthand side of vehicle: deployment zone of the combined curtain and side airbags. B: on the side of the front seat: location and
deployment zone of the combined curtain and side airbag
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings →Introduction
The combined curtain and side airbags are located in the outer seat backrest cushions → Fig. 64 B of the driver seat and front passenger seat.
The locations of the airbags are shown by labels with the word AIRBAG.
The areas outlined in red → Fig. 64 are inside the deployment area of the combined head/side airbags. You must never leave or attach any
objects in these areas → .
Once triggered, the airbag inflates at high speed.
Always leave the deployment zones of the side airbags clear.
No other people, animals or objects may be carried between the occupants of the front seats and the airbag deployment zone. Make sure
that children and passengers also keep to this rule.
The built-in coat hooks should only be used for lightweight clothing. Do not leave any heavy or sharp objects in the pockets.
Do not fit any accessories to the doors.
Do not fit seat covers or protective covers over the seats unless they have been expressly approved for use in the vehicle. Otherwise the
side airbag may not be able to inflate once triggered.
WARNING
Incorrect use of the driver and front passenger seat could hinder the proper function of the side airbag and cause serious injury.
Never remove the front seats from the vehicle or alter any components of these seats.
If too much pressure is applied to the backrest side bolster, the side airbags may not be triggered correctly, may not trigger at all, or may
trigger unexpectedly.
Any damage to the original seat upholstery or around the seams of the side airbag units must be repaired immediately by a qualified
workshop.
WARNING

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During a side collision, the combined curtain and side airbags will be deployed on the vehicle's side of impact, reducing the risk of injury to the
areas of the vehicle occupants' bodies facing the impact.
Curtain airbags
Fig. 65 On the lefthand side of the vehicle: location and deployment zone of the curtain airbag
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings →Introduction
In the interior, a curtain airbag is fitted above the doors on both the driver and front passenger sides → Fig. 65 . The airbag location is identified
by the text AIRBAG.
Once triggered, the airbag inflates at high speed.
Always keep the deployment zones of the combined curtain and side airbags clear.
No other people, animals or objects may be carried between the occupants of the front seats and the airbag deployment zone. Make sure
that children and passengers also keep to this rule.
The built-in coat hooks should only be used for lightweight clothing. Do not leave any heavy or sharp objects in the pockets.
Do not fit any accessories to the doors.
Do not fit seat covers or protective covers over the seats unless they have been expressly approved for use in the vehicle. Otherwise the
combined combined curtain and side airbags may not be able to deploy if it has been triggered.
WARNING
Incorrect use of the driver and front passenger seat could hinder the proper function of the combined curtain and side airbags and cause
serious injury.
Never remove the front seats from the vehicle or alter any components of these seats.
If too much pressure is applied to the backrest side bolster, the combined curtain and side airbags may not be triggered correctly, may not
trigger at all or may trigger unexpectedly.
Any damage to the original seat upholstery or around the seams of the combined curtain and side airbag units must be repaired immediately
by a qualified workshop.
WARNING

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The area in the red frame → Fig. 65 is covered by the curtain airbag when triggered (deployment zone). For this reason, you must never leave or
attach any items in this area → .
In a side collision the curtain airbag is triggered on the impact side of the vehicle.
In a side collision, the curtain airbags reduce the risk of injury to the areas of the body facing the impact for vehicle occupants on the front seats
and outer rear seats.
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
→ Basic information on fitting and using child seats
→ Types of child seat
→ Securing systems
→ Securing a child seat with ISOFIX
→ Securing child seats with the upper strap (top tether)
→ Securing child seats with a seat belt
Using child seats can reduce the risk of injury to the child if there is an accident. Always use child seats when driving with children.
Note the following:
Child seats are classified into groups depending on the size, age and weight of child for which they are designed.
Various securing systems are used to secure child seats in the vehicle.
For safety reasons child seats should always be fitted to the rear seats. They should only be fitted to the front passenger seat in exceptional
cases.
Volkswagen recommends child seats from the Volkswagen range of accessories. These child seats have been developed and approved for use
in Volkswagen vehicles.
Once triggered, the airbag inflates at high speed.
Always leave the deployment zones of the curtain airbags clear.
Never secure any items to the cover or in the deployment zone of the curtain airbag.
Vehicle occupants sitting on the front seats and rear outer seats must never carry any people, pets or objects in the deployment zone
between themselves and the airbags. Make sure that children and passengers also keep to this rule.
The built-in coat hooks should only be used for lightweight clothing. Do not leave any heavy or sharp objects in the pockets.
Do not fit any accessories to the doors.
Do not install any sunblinds onto the side windows unless they have been expressly approved for use in your vehicle.
Only push the sunblinds over to the side windows if no items are attached to them (e.g. pens or the remote control for a garage door).
WARNING
Child seats