2020 AUDI A3 child restraint

Be very careful when adjusting the seats to
avoid damaging the head restraints, headlin-
er, or sunroof*.
Front center armrest
Applies to: vehicles with a front center armrest
The front center armrest is located between the
front seats.
Adjusting the center armrest
The settings depend on the vehicle equipment.
> To adjust the armrest forward or backward,
move the armrest in the desired direction.
> To adjust the angle, raise the armrest in stages.
> To move the armrest back into the original posi-
tion, raise it slightly out of the top level and
fold it downward.

ZA\ WARNING
In certain positions, the front center armrest
can interfere with the driver’s arm movement,
which increases the risk of injury.

Head restraints
Proper adjustment of head restraints
Applies to: vehicles with adjustable head restraints
Correctly adjusted head restraints are an impor-
tant part of your vehicle's occupant restraint sys-
tem and can help to reduce the risk of injuries in
accident situations.

B4G-0454



Fig. 67 Head restraint: viewed from the front
The head restraints must be correctly adjusted to
achieve the best protection.
56
> 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.
> Applies to: forward/back adjustable head re-
straints: Move the head restraint so that it is as
close to the back of the head as possible.
> If there is a passenger on the rear center seat-
ing position, slide the center head restraint up-
ward at least to the next notch.

ZA WARNING
All seats are equipped with head restraints.
Driving without head restraints or with head
restraints that are not properly adjusted in-
creases the risk of serious or fatal neck injury
dramatically. To help reduce the risk of injury:
— Always drive with the head restraints in
place and properly adjusted.
— Every person in the vehicle must have a
properly adjusted head restraint.
— Always make sure each person in the vehicle
properly adjusts their head restraint. 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
restraint so that it is as close to this position
as possible.
— Applies to: forward/back adjustable head re-
straints: Move the head restraint so that it is
as close to the back of the head as possible.
— Never attempt to adjust head restraint while
driving. If you have driven off and must ad-
just the driver headrest for any reason, first
stop the vehicle safely before attempting to
adjust the head restraint.
— Children must always be properly restrained
in a child restraint that is appropriate for
their age and size > page 278.

Seats


Z\ WARNING
Only remove the rear seat head restraints
when necessary in order to install a child safe-
ty seat > page 278, Child safety. Install the
head restraint again immediately once the
child safety seat is removed. Driving with the
head restraints removed or not in the upright
position increases the risk of serious injury.


Steering wheel
General information
Make sure that:
— The distance between your upper body and the
steering wheel is at least 10 in (25 cm)
— Your arms are bent slightly at the elbows
— You have a sufficient view of the area around
the vehicle and you have a clear view of the in-
strument cluster
— You are always holding the steering wheel with
both hands on the outer edge at the sides (9:00
and 3:00 position) when driving

Z\ WARNING
—To reduce the risk of an accident, make sure
the steering wheel is adjusted correctly and
cannot be moved out of position before you
start to drive.
— If you are too close to the steering wheel,
the driver's airbag cannot provide optimal
protection, which increases the risk of injury
or fatality.
— Never hold the steering wheel in the 12:00
position or in any other way, such as holding
the center of the steering wheel. Otherwise,
your arms, hands, and head could be injured
in the event that the driver's airbag deploys.
— If your physical characteristics prevent you
from sitting at least 10 inches (25 cm) or
more away from the steering wheel, see if
an authorized Audi dealer or authorized
Audi Service Facility can provide adapters
that will help.


58
Adjusting the steering wheel position
The steering wheel position is adjustable up and
down and forward and back.



Fig. 71 Steering column: lever for adjusting the steering
wheel position
> Pull the lever in the direction of the arrow.
> Bring the steering wheel into the desired posi-
tion.
> Push the lever all the way up until it engages.

8V2012721BK
Stowing and using



braking maneuvers or in the event of an ac-
cident.
Loose objects can be thrown around the ve-
hicle interior during sudden driving or brak-
ing maneuvers, which increases the risk of
an accident. Always stow objects securely in
the luggage compartment and secure them
at the tie-downs. Use straps suitable for
heavy objects.
If pieces of luggage or objects are secured
to the tie-downs with unsuitable or dam-
aged straps, this can increase the risk of in-
jury during braking maneuvers or accidents.
When transporting heavy objects, the vehi-
cle characteristics will change due to the
shift in the center of gravity, which increases
the risk of an accident. You may need to
adapt your driving style and speed to the
current conditions.
The cargo net is only strong enough to se-
cure light objects. Heavy objects are not ade-
quately secured. Attempting to secure heavy
objects increases the risk of injury.
Never exceed the permitted axle and load
and vehicle weight > page 380.
Never secure a child safety seat to the tie-
downs.
Never leave your vehicle unattended, espe-
cially if the luggage compartment lid is
open. Children could enter the luggage com-
partment and close the luggage compart-
ment lid from the inside. This creates the
risk of fatal injury, since the children would
be locked in and may not be able to escape
by themselves.
Do not allow children to play in or on the ve-
hicle. Close and lock the luggage compart-
ment lid as well as all other doors when you
leave the vehicle.
Never transport passengers in the luggage
compartment. Every passenger must be cor-
rectly secured with the safety belts in the
vehicle > page 245.
Be careful when releasing the backrest and
folding
it forward. To reduce the risk of be-
ing pinched, pay attention and check when
folding backrests forward.

— The backrest must be securely latched so
objects cannot slide forward out of the lug-
gage compartment during sudden braking.
— The backrest must be latched securely to en-
sure that the safety belt is protecting the
center seating position.
— Always pull forward on the backrest to make
sure it is check if it is correctly locked in
place.
@) Note
—To reduce the risk of damage, move the rear
head restraints down > page 57 before fold-
ing the rear backrests forward.
— When folding the backrest forward, make
sure the outer safety belts are in the belt
guide recess so that they do not get pinched
in the backrest lock and damaged. Other ob-
jects should be removed from the rear
bench seat to protect the backrest from
damage.
— If you move the front seat back when the
rear seat backrest is folded forward, you
could damage the head restraints on the
rear seat.

— Make sure that the heating grid strips for
the rear window defogger are not damaged
by abrasive objects.
@ Tips
— The tire pressure must be adapted to the
load > page 330.
— You can purchase straps at specialty stores.
Luggage compartment cover
Applies to: vehicles with luggage compartment cover
5 = S$
= = &
oO

Fig. 74 Luggage compartment: luggage compartment cov-
er >
61

8V2012721BK
Driving safety

Driving safety
Basics
SER Nails mali
Please remember - safety first!
The individual safety features of your vehicle can
work together as a system to help protect you
and
your passengers in a wide range of accidents.
These features cannot work as a system if they
are not always correctly adjusted and correctly
used.
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 summar-
ized here what you need to know about safety
belts, airbags, child restraints as well as child
safety. Your safety is for us priority number 1. Al-
ways observe the information and warnings in
this section - for your own safety as well as that
of your passengers.
The information in this section applies to all
model versions of your vehicle. Some of the fea-
tures described in this sections may be standard
equipment on some models, or may be optional
equipment on others. If you are not sure, ask
your authorized Audi dealer.

ZA WARNING
— Always make sure that you follow the in-
structions and heed the WARNINGS in this
Manual. It is in your interest and in the in-
terest of your passengers.
— Always keep the complete Owner's Litera-
ture in your Audi when you lend or sell your
vehicle so that this important information
will always be available to the driver and
passengers.
— Always keep the Owner's literature handy so
that you can find it easily if you have ques-
tions.

Important things to do before driving
Safety is everybody's job! Vehicle and occupant
safety always depends on the informed and care-
ful driver.
For
your safety and the safety of your passen-
gers, before driving always:
> Make sure that all lights and signals are operat-
ing correctly.
> Make sure that the tire pressure is correct.
> Make sure that all windows are clean and afford
good visibility to the outside.
> Secure all luggage and other items carefully
= page 60, > page 60.
> Make sure that nothing can interfere with the
pedals.
> Adjust front seat, head restraint and mirrors
correctly for your height.
> Instruct passengers to adjust the head re-
straints according to their height.
> Make sure to use the right child restraint cor-
rectly to protect children > page 278, Child
safety.
» Sit properly in your seat and make sure that
your passengers do the same > page 54, Front
seats.
> Fasten your safety belt and wear it properly. Al-
so instruct your passengers to fasten their safe-
ty belts properly > page 245.
What impairs driving safety?
Safe driving is directly related to the condition of
the vehicle, the driver as well as the driver’s abili-
ty to concentrate on the road without being dis-
tracted.
The driver is responsible for the safety of the ve-
hicle and all of its occupants. If your ability to
drive is impaired, safety risks for everybody in the
vehicle increase and you also become a hazard to
everyone else on the road > /\. Therefore:
> Do not let yourself be distracted by passengers
or by using a cellular telephone.
> NEVER drive when your driving ability is im-
paired (by medications, alcohol, drugs, etc.).
> Observe all traffic laws, rules of the road and
speed limits and plain common sense.
237

8V2012721BK
Driving safety

> Always keep both feet in the footwell so that
you are in control of the vehicle at all times.
For detailed information on how to adjust the
driver's seat, see > page 54.

ZA 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 breastbone
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 out-
side of the steering wheel rim with your
hands at the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock posi-
tions to help reduce the risk of personal in-
jury 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. Holding
the steering wheel the wrong way can cause
serious injuries to the hands, arms and head
if the driver's airbag inflates.
— Pointing the steering wheel toward your
face decreases the ability of the supplemen-
tal driver's airbag to protect you in a colli-
sion.
— Always sit in an upright position and never
lean against or place any part of your body
too close to the area where the airbags are
located.
— Before driving, always adjust the front seats
properly and make sure that all passengers
are properly restrained.
— For adjustable head restraints: before driv-
ing, always also adjust the head restraints
properly.
— Never adjust the seats while the vehicle is
moving. Your seat may move unexpectedly

and you could lose control of the vehicle.

— Never drive with the backrest reclined or tilt-
ed far back! The farther the backrests are
tilted
back, the greater the risk of injury due
to incorrect positioning of the safety belt
and improper seating position.
— Children must always ride in child seats
=> page 278. Special precautions apply when
installing a child seat on the front passenger
seat > page 253.
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 in-
jury in the event of an accident, we recommend
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 adjustable head restraints: adjust the head
restraint so the upper edge is as even as possi-
ble with the top of your head. If that is not pos-
sible, try to adjust the head restraint so that it
is as close to this position as possible
=> page 57. Move the head restraint 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 248.
For detailed information on how to adjust the
front passenger's seat, see > page 54.

ZA\ WARNING
Front seat passengers who are unbelted, out
of position or too close to the airbag can be
seriously injured or killed by the airbag as it
unfolds. To help reduce the risk of serious per-
sonal injury:
— Passengers must always sit in an upright po-
sition and never lean against or place any
part of their body too close to the area
where the airbags are located. >

239

Driving safety


— Passengers who are unbelted, out of posi-
tion or too close to the airbag can be seri-
ously injured by an airbag as it unfolds with
great force in the blink of an eye.
— Always make sure that there are at least
10 inches (25 cm) between the front pas-
senger‘s breastbone and the instrument
panel.
— Always make sure that there are at least
4 inches (10 cm) between the front passen-
ger‘s knees and the lower part of the instru-
ment panel.
— Each passenger must always sit on a seat of
their own and properly fasten and wear the
safety belt belonging to that seat.
— Before driving, always adjust the front pas-
senger seat properly.
— For adjustable head restraints: before driv-
ing, always also adjust the head restraints
properly.
— Always keep your feet on the floor in front of
the seat. Never rest them on the seat, in-
strument panel, out of the window, etc. The
airbag system and safety belt will not be
able to protect you properly and can even in-
crease the risk of injury in a crash.
— Never drive with the backrest reclined or tilt-
ed far back! The farther the backrests are
tilted
back, the greater the risk of injury due
to incorrect positioning of the safety belt
and improper seating position.
— Children must always ride in child seats
= page 278. Special precautions apply when
installing a child seat on the front passenger
seat > page 253.

Proper seating positions for passengers in
israel -r- 1}
Rear seat passengers must sit upright with both
feet on the floor consistent with their physical
size and be properly restrained whenever the ve-
hicle is in use.
To reduce the risk of injury caused by an incorrect
seating position in the event of a sudden braking
maneuver or an accident, your passengers on the
rear bench seat must always observe the follow-
ing:
240
> For adjustable head restraints: adjust the head
restraint so the upper edge is as even as possi-
ble with the top of your head. If that is not pos-
sible, try to adjust the head restraint so that it
is as close to this position as possible
=> page 57.
> Keep both feet flat in the footwell in front of
the rear seat.
> Fasten and wear safety belts properly
=> page 248.
> Make sure that children are always properly re-
strained in a child restraint that is appropriate
for their size and age > page 278.

ZA WARNING
Passengers who are improperly seated on the
rear seat can be seriously injured in a crash.
— Each passenger must always sit on a seat of
their own and properly fasten and wear the
safety belt belonging to that seat.
— Safety belts only offer maximum protection
when the safety belts are properly posi-
tioned on the body and securely latched. By
not sitting upright, a rear seat passenger in-
creases the risk of personal injury from im-
properly positioned safety belts!
— For adjustable head restraints: always adjust
the head restraint properly so that it can

give maximum protection.
Examples of improper seating positions
The occupant restraint system can only reduce
the risk of injury if vehicle occupants are properly
seated.

Improper seating positions can cause serious in-
jury or death. Safety belts can only work when
they are properly positioned on the body. Im-
proper seating positions reduce the effectiveness
of safety belts and will even increase the risk of
injury and death by moving the safety belt to crit-
ical areas of the body. Improper seating positions
also increase the risk of serious injury and death
when an airbag deploys and strikes an occupant
who is not in the proper seating position. A driver
is responsible for the safety of all vehicle occu-
pants and especially for children. Therefore: >

8V2012721BK
Safety belts

Safety belts
General notes
OCEANS Lae 15 aes
Wearing safety belts correctly saves lives!
This chapter explains why safety belts are neces-
sary, how they work and how to adjust and wear
them correctly.
> Read all the information that follows and heed
all of the instructions and WARNINGS.

ZA WARNING
Not wearing safety belts or wearing them im-
properly increases the risk of serious personal
injury and death.
— Safety belts are the single most effective
means available to reduce the risk of serious
injury and death in automobile accidents.
For your protection and that of your passen-
gers, always correctly wear safety belts
when the vehicle is moving.
— Pregnant women, injured, or physically im-
paired persons must also use safety belts.
Like all vehicle occupants, they are more
likely to be seriously injured if they do not
wear Safety belts. The best way to protect a
fetus is to protect the mother - throughout
the entire pregnancy.
NT Tae met)
Applies to: vehicles without power top: Your Audi
has a total of five seating positions: two in the
front and three in the rear. Each seating position
has a safety belt.


Applies to: vehicles with power top: Your Audi
has a total of four seating positions: two in the
front and two in the rear. Each seating position
has a safety belt.

ZA WARNING
Not wearing safety belts or wearing them im-
properly increases the risk of serious personal
injury and death.


— Never strap more than one person, including
small children, into any belt. It is especially
dangerous to place a safety belt over a child
sitting on your lap.
— Never let more people ride in the vehicle
than there are safety belts available.
— Be sure everyone riding in the vehicle is
properly restrained with a separate safety
belt or child restraint.
Safety belt warning light
Your vehicle has a warning system for the driver
and front seat passenger to remind you about
the importance of buckling-up.



B42-0526


Fig. 203 Safety belt warning light in the instrument clus-
ter - enlarged
Before driving off, always:
> Fasten your safety belt and make sure you are
wearing it properly.
> Make sure that your passengers also buckle up
and properly wear their safety belts.
> Protect children with a child restraint system
appropriate for the size and age.
The warning light in the instrument cluster
lights up when the ignition is on as a reminder to
fasten the safety belts. In addition, you will hear
a warning tone for a certain period of time.
Fasten your safety belt and make sure that your
passengers also properly put on their safety
belts.

Z\ WARNING
— Safety belts are the single most effective
means available to reduce the risk of serious
injury and death in automobile accidents. >


245

Safety belts

A tunlSelae eta mide aa (elare delet at Lila
ey lh ay
Safety belts must always be correctly positioned
across the strongest bones of your body.
> Always wear safety belts as illustrated and de-
scribed in this chapter.
> Make sure that your safety belts are always
ready for use and are not damaged.

ZA\ WARNING
Not wearing safety belts or wearing them im-
properly increases the risk of serious personal
injury and death. Safety belts can work only
when used correctly.
— Always fasten your safety belts correctly be-
fore driving off and make sure all passen-
gers are correctly restrained.
— For maximum protection, safety belts must
always be positioned properly on the body.
— Never strap more than one person, including
small children, into any belt.
— Never place a safety belt over a child sitting
on your lap.
— Always keep feet in the footwell in front of
the seat while the vehicle is being driven.
— Never let any person ride with their feet on
the instrument panel or sticking out the
window or on the seat.
— Never remove a safety belt while the vehicle
is moving. Doing so will increase your risk of
being injured or killed.
— Never wear belts twisted.
— Never wear belts over rigid or breakable ob-
jects in or on your clothing, such as eye
glasses, pens, keys, etc., as these may cause
injury.
— Never allow safety belts to become dam-
aged by being caught in door or seat hard-
ware.
— Do not wear the shoulder part of the belt
under your arm or otherwise out of position.
— Several layers of heavy clothing may inter-
fere with correct positioning of belts and re-


duce the overall effectiveness of the system.

248

— Always keep belt buckles free of anything
that may prevent the buckle from latching
securely.
— Never use comfort clips or devices that cre-
ate slack in the shoulder belt. However, spe-
cial clips may be required for the proper use
of some child restraint systems.
—Torn or frayed safety belts can tear, and
damaged belt hardware can break in an acci-
dent. Inspect belts regularly. If webbing,
bindings, buckles, or retractors are dam-
aged, have belts replaced by an authorized
Audi dealer or qualified workshop.
— Safety belts that have been worn and loaded
in an accident must be replaced with the
correct replacement safety belt by an au-
thorized Audi dealer. Replacement may be
necessary even if damage cannot be clearly
seen. Anchorages that were loaded must al-
so be inspected.
— Never remove, modify, disassemble, or try
to repair the safety belts yourself.
— Always keep the belts clean. Dirty belts may
not work properly and can impair the func-
tion of the inertia reel > table Interior
cleaning on page 344.


Safety belts
Fastening safety belts
Safety first - everybody buckle up!




Fig. 209 Belt buckle and tongue on the driver's seat
To provide maximum protection, safety belts
must always be positioned correctly on the wear-
er's body.
> Adjust the front seat and head restraint proper-
ly > page 54, Front seats.