Safe driving
Safe driving
General notes
Safety is the first priority
The safety features in your vehicle are harmon
ised to provide you and your passengers with the
best possible protection in accident situations.
However, they can only be effective if you and
your passengers sit in the correct position and
adjust and use the safety equipment properly.
For these reasons, this chapter explains why
these safety features are so important, how they
can protect you, what you need to remember
when using them, and
how
you and your passen
gers can gain the most benefit from them. There
are also a number of important safety warnings
which you and your passengers should always ob
serve in order to minimise the risk of injury.
WARNING
- The information in this chapter is important
for the driver of the vehicle and all passen
gers.
The other chapters in this manual
(and,
where applicable, in the other litera
ture supplied with the vehicle) contain fur
ther important notes which you should read
and observe for your own safety and that of
your passengers.
- Ensure that the complete vehicle wallet is
always in the vehicle. This is especially im
portant when you lend or sell the vehicle to
others.
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Before every trip
The driver is responsible for the safety of the
passengers and the safe operation of the vehicle
at all times.
For
your own safety and the safety of your pas
sengers, always note the following points before
every trip:
•
Make sure that all lights and turn signals are
working properly.
•
Check the tyre pressures.
•
Make sure that all windows are clean and give
good visibility to the outside.
•
Secure all luggage and other items carefully
•=>
page 272.
• Make sure that no objects can interfere with
the pedals.
•
Adjust the front seat, head restraint and mir
rors correctly.
• Applies to: adjustable head restraints: Make
sure that the front passenger's head restraint is
adjusted to the correct position.
• Applies to: adjustable head restraints: Make
sure that the head restraints for the rear pas
sengers are in the fully raised position.
•
Make sure that children are protected with suit
able safety seats and properly worn seat belts
•=>
page 267.
•
Sit in the correct position in your seat. Make
sure
that
your passengers are sitting in the cor
rect positions
^>page
58.
•
Fasten your seat belt correctly. Make sure that
your passengers do the same
^page
275.
What factors can impair your safety?
Safety on the road is directly related to
how
you
drive, and can also be affected by the passengers
in the vehicle.
• The driver is responsible for the safety of the
vehicle and all its occupants. If your ability to
drive is impaired in any way, you endanger
yourself and other road users
,=>^.
Therefore:
• Do not let yourself be distracted by passengers
or by using a mobile phone, etc.
•
Never drive when your driving ability is im
paired (by medication, alcohol, drugs, etc.).
• Obey all traffic regulations and speed limits
and always maintain a safe distance to the
vehi
cle in front.
•
Always adjust your speed to suit the
road,
traf
fic and weather conditions.
•
Take frequent breaks on long trips. Do not drive
for more than two hours without a stop.
•
If possible, avoid driving when you are tired or
stressed.
•
263
Safe driving
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Child restraint systems are regulated by Europe
an standards ECE
R
44 or ECE-R
129x).
Both
standards apply in parallel. An orange label is
normally attached to child seats which have been
tested in accordance with these standards. Infor
mation on weight categories, ISOFIX size class
and the approval category of the child seat can
be found on this Label.
Weight categories for child seats
- Child seats: categories 0 and 0+: Rearward-
facing carry cots are most appropriate for these
categories (up to 13 kg). Our recommendation:
Audi carry cot with optional ISOFIX base.
- Child seats: category 1: In this category (9 to
18 kg), rearward or forward-facing child seats
with an integrated seat belt system are most
appropriate. Rearward-facing child seats
should be used for as long as safely possible.
Our recommendation: Audi child seat with ISO-
FIX base.
- Child seats: categories 2 and 3: Child seats
with backrests used in conjunction with seat
belts are most appropriate for these categories
(15 to 36 kg). Our recommendation: Audi child
seat "youngster plus".
Approval categories for child seats
Child seats can have the approval categories
uni
versal,
semi-universal, vehicle-specific (all ac
cording to the ECE-R 44 standard) or
i-Size
(ac
cording to the ECE-R 129 standard).
- Universal: Child seats approved for the univer
sal category are suitable for installation in any
vehicle. A model list is not required. Universal
category child seats for ISOFIX anchorages
must be secured additionally by
a
top tether
strap.
- Semi-universal: Safety appliances requiring ad
ditional tests are required for securing a child
seat with semi-universal approval. Child seats
with semi-universal approval have a model list
which must include your vehicle.
-Vehicle-specific: Vehicle-specific approval re
quires that the child seat undergo a separate
1)
The ECE-R 129 standard has not yet been implemented by
the national authorities in all countries.
dynamic test for each vehicle model. Child
seats with a vehicle-specific approval also have
a model List.
- i-Size: Child seats with
i-Size
approval must
comply with the installation and safety require
ments specified in the ECE-R 129 standard.
Your child seat manufacturer can inform you
which child seats with
i-Size
approval are ap
propriate for your vehicle.
A WARNING
- Rearward-facing child seats: Never install a
rearward-facing child seat on the front pas
senger's seat unless the front passenger's
airbag has been deactivated - this can result
in potentially fatal injuries to the
child.
If
you have no alternative but to let
a
child
travel on the front passenger's seat, the
front passenger's airbag must be deactiva
ted*
beforehand
^>page
288.
- Forward-facing child seats: The back of the
child seat should be flush with the backrest
of the vehicle seat. If the rear head restraint
obstructs you when installing the child seat,
adjust or remove it completely
^>page
59.
Install the head restraint again immediately
after removing the child seat. Adjust the
head restraint to the correct height for the
passenger. Travelling with the head re
straints removed or incorrectly adjusted in
creases the
risk
of severe injuries.
- Categories 2 and 3: The shoulder section of
the belt must be fitted across the centre of
the child's collar bone close to the torso. It
must never run against or across the neck.
The lap belt must be worn tightly across the
hips,
and not over the stomach or abdomen.
Pull the belt tight if necessary to take up
any slack.
- Wait for as long as possibLe before changing
up to the next child seat group.
© Note
We recommend child seats from the range of
Audi Genuine Accessories: www.audi.com.
269
Safe driving
Fitting child seats
Securing child seats with ISOFIX
Fig.
211 Securing child seat with ISOFIX
If
you
wish to attach an ISOFIX child seat or i-
Size child seat to the ISOFIX anchorages in your
vehicle, please ensure that it is approved for the
seats in your vehicle. The following table
•=>
table
on page 270 shows the installation options. The
necessary information can be found on the or
ange label on the child seat.
• Remove the covers* from the two ISOFIX an
chorages.
•
Push the mountings on the child seat into the
ISOFIX anchorages until they engage audibly
=»
Fig.
211.
• PuLl
on the child seat to check whether both
sides have engaged properly.
•
If possibLe, secure the child seat additionally to
the top
tether1^
anchorage
^>page
271.
Child seat
Category 0:
up to 10 kg
Category 0+:
up to 13 kg
Category 1:
9 to 18 kg
ISOFIX
size cate
gory
E
E
D
C
D
C
B
Bl
A
Outer
rear seats
IL
IL
IL
IL
IL,
IUF
IL,
IUF
IL,
IUF
Front
passeng
er's seat*
IL
IL
IL
Child seat
Category 2:
15 to
25 kg
Category 3:
22 to 36 kg
i-Size
child
seat
ISOFIX
size cate
gory
-
-
-
Outer
rear seats
IL
IL
i-U
Front
passeng
er's seat*
IL
IL
X
- Size category: The size category specifies the
weight range for which the seat is approved. On
child seats with universal or semi-universal ap
proval,
the size category is specified on the ECE
approval Label. Each child seat carries a label
specifying the weight category.
- IL: Seat suitable for the attachment of an ISO-
FIX child seat with semi-universal approval. Re
fer to the list of vehicles provided by the child
seat manufacturer.
- IUF: Seat suitable for the attachment of
a
for
ward-facing ISOFIX child seat with universal
approval.
- i-U: Seat suitable for the attachment of an i-
Size child seat with universal approval.
- X: Seat not suitable for the attachment of the
corresponding child seat.
WARNING
- Please refer to the important safety notes
•=>
A in Safety notes for using child seats on
page 268,
•=>
A In Child seat categories on
page 269 and the instructions provided by
the child seat manufacturer.
- Never install
a
rearward-facing child seat on
the front passenger's seat unless the front
passenger's airbag has been deactivated -
this can result in potentially fatal injuries to
the
child.
- The anchorages in the vehicle are designed
only for child seats with ISOFIX. Do not at
tempt to secure other types of child seat,
seat belts or other objects to these ancho
rages - this could result in serious or possi
bly fatal injury.
l)
This function is not available for all export versions.
270
Safe driving
Securing child seats with ISOFIX and top
tether
Applies to: vehicles with top tether
â
I
Fig.
212 Rear backrest: Top tether anchorages (version 1)
7k
C
Fig.
213 Rear backrest: Top tether anchorages (version 2)
•
Adjust the head restraint behind the child seat
to the fully extended position.
•
Push the mountings on the child seat into the
ISOFIX anchorages until they engage audibly
^> page
270.
*•
Pull on the child seat to check whether both
sides have engaged properly.
•
Guide the top tether strap of the child seat un
derneath or past both sides of the head re
straint (depending on the type of child seat) to
wards the rear.
•
Hook the strap into the top tether
anchorage15
=>
Fig.
212/o
Fig.
213.
•
Pull the tether strap tight so that the top of the
child seat rests securely against the backrest.
WARNING
- Please refer to the important safety notes
•=>
A in Safety notes for using child seats on
page 268,
•=>
A in Child seat categories on
page 269 and the instructions provided by
the child seat manufacturer.
- The anchorages in the vehicle are designed
only for one child seat with ISOFIX and top
tether. Do not attempt to secure other
types of child seat, seat belts or other ob
jects to these anchorages - this could result
in serious or possibly fatal injury.
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Securing child seats with seat belt
If
you
wish to use a child seat in the approval cat
egory "universal" (u), please ensure that it is ap
proved for the seats in your vehicle. The follow
ing table shows the installation options. The nec
essary information can be found on the orange
label on the child seat.
Weight class
Category 0: Up to 10 kg
Category 0+: Up to 13 kg
Category 1: 9 to 18 kg
Category 2: 15 to 25 kg
Category 3: 22 to 36 kg
Front passenger's seat
Front passeng
er's airbag on
X
X
X
u
u
Front passeng
er's airbag off*
u
u
u
u
u
Outer rear seat
positions
u
u
u
u
u
Centre rear seat
u
u
u
u
u
X: Seat not suitable for the attachment of the
corresponding child seat.
1}
Two or three top tether anchorages are provided, depend
ing on the equipment installed in your vehicle.
To adjust the front passenger's seat to the child
seat and to achieve the best possible seat belt •
271
Safe driving
positioning, move the front passenger's seat as
far upwards as possibLe using the seat's height
adjustment. After installing the child seat on the
front passenger's seat, move the front passen
ger's backrest forward until it makes contact
with the child seat.
A WARNING
- Please refer to the important safety notes
•=>
A in Safety notes for using child seats on
page 268,
•=>
A in Child seat categories on
page 269 and the instructions provided by
the child seat manufacturer.
- Never install
a
rearward-facing child seat on
the front passenger's seat unless the front
passenger's airbag has been deactivated -
this can result in potentially fatal injuries to
the
child.
Pedal area
Pedals
The
pedals must always be free to move and
must never be obstructed by floor mats or any
objects in the footwell.
•
Make sure that none of the pedals is obstructed
and all of the pedals can be pressed all the way
down to the floor.
•
Make sure that all pedals are able to return
freely to their original positions.
Only use floor mats which Leave the pedal area
free and can be securely fastened in the footwell.
If one of the brake circuits should
fail,
increased
brake pedal travel will be required to bring the
vehicle safely to a stop.
A WARNING
Any obstructions that restrict pedal travel can
cause loss of vehicLe control and lead to
criti
cal traffic situations.
- Never place objects in the driver's footwell.
Such objects could move under the pedals
and interfere with their proper function. In
the event of sudden braking or
a
change of
direction,
you would not be able to use the
pedals. This could result in a loss of control
and possibly cause an accident.
Floor mats on the driver's side
Use
only floor mats which can be securely fas
tened in the footwell and do not obstruct the
pedals.
•
Make sure that floor mats are securely fastened
and cannot interfere with the pedals
o /\.
Use only floor mats that leave the pedal area un
obstructed and are firmly secured to prevent
them from slipping. You can obtain suitable floor
mats from your dealer or a specialist retailer.
A WARNING
Any obstructions that restrict pedal travel can
cause Loss of vehicle control and increase the
risk of serious personal injury.
- Always make sure that floor mats are prop
erly secured.
- Never lay or
instaLl
additional floor mats or
other floor coverings over the existing floor
mats;
this would restrict the pedal area and
possibly obstruct the pedals, which could
cause an accident.
Stowing Luggage
safely
Luggage compartment
Fig.
214 Heavy items should be placed as far forwards as
possible (example).
All Luggage and other objects must be safely se
cured in the Luggage compartment. To maintain
safe handling on the
road,
please observe the
fol
lowing points: •
272
Safe driving
•
Distribute the load evenly in the luggage com
partment.
•
Place heavy items as far forward as possible in
the luggage compartment and secure them
properly
<^>Fig.
214.
•
Secure the load with the stretch net* or with
non-elastic straps secured to the fastening
rings
^>page
62.
© CAUTION
A WARNING
- Loose items in the luggage compartment
are a safety hazard: they can move suddenly
and impair the handling of the vehicLe as a
result of the change in weight distribution.
- In an accident or a sudden manoeuvre, loose
objects in the passenger compartment can
be flung forward - risk of injury! Always
stow objects safely in the luggage compart
ment and secure them on the fastening
rings.
Use suitable securing straps, particu
larly when transporting heavy objects.
- Transporting heavy objects may affect the
vehicle's handling by shifting the centre of
gravity - this could cause an accident. Take
extra care when driving and adjust your
speed accordingly.
- Never exceed the maximum axle loads or
the maximum gross weight for the vehicLe
^>page
342. Exceeding the permitted axle
loads or gross weight Limit can affect the ve
hicle's handling characteristics, and increase
the risk of accidents, personal injuries or
damage to the vehicle.
- Never leave your vehicLe unattended when
the boot lid is open. Children could climb in
to the boot and close the boot lid from the
inside.
In this case the child would be un
able to get out of the vehicle without help.
This could have fatal consequences.
- Never allow children to play in or around the
vehicle. Always close and lock the boot lid
and all the doors when you leave the
vehi
cle.
- Never let passengers ride in the luggage
compartment. All occupants must be prop
erly restrained by the seat belts at all times
•=>
page
27'5.
Make sure that no hard objects chafe against
the wires of the heating element in the rear
window and damage them.
©
Note
- The tyre pressure must be adjusted accord
ing to the load the vehicle is carrying
<^>page
307.
- Air circulation in the vehicle helps reduce
fogging of the windows. Used air escapes
through ventilation slots in the rear of the
vehicle. Make sure that these ventilation
slots are not obstructed.
- Suitable belts for securing loads to the fas
tening rings* are commercially available.
Fastening rings
Unsecured loads are a hazard to all vehicle occu
pants.
There are fastening rings in the luggage com
partment which can be used to secure luggage
and other objects
^>page
62.
•
Use the fastening rings to secure items safely
in the luggage compartment
<=> A.
During a collision or an accident, even small and
light objects can possess so much energy that
they can cause very severe injuries. The amount
of this "kinetic energy" depends on the speed of
the vehicLe and the weight of the object. The
most significant factor, however, is the speed of
the vehicLe.
For example: an object weighing 4.5 kg is lying
unsecured in the vehicle. During a frontal
colli
sion at a speed of 50 km/h, this object generates
a force corresponding to 20 times its weight.
That means that the effective weight of the ob
ject increases to about 90 kg. You can imagine
the severity of the injuries which might be sus
tained if this "projectile" strikes an occupant as it
flies through the passenger compartment. •
00
273
Safe driving
/K WARNING
If items of luggage or other objects are se
cured to the fastening rings with inappropri
ate or damaged tensioning straps, injuries
could result in the event of sudden braking or
a collision.
- To prevent pieces of Luggage or other ob
jects from flying forward, always use appro
priate tensioning straps which are properly
secured to the fastening rings.
- Never secure a child seat on the fastening
rings.
274
Seat belts
•
Pull the belt to check that it is now securely fas
tened.
The three-point inertia reel belts are tensioned
automatically. The retractor system gives com
plete freedom of movement, as long as the pull
on the belt is slow. Hard braking locks the belt.
The belt will also lock when you accelerate, drive
up or down a steep hill or corner sharply.
A WARNING
- Always make certain that the belt is
posi
tioned properly
^>Fig.
220 - risk of injury
<=$page
278, Adjusting the seat belts.
- The latch plate of the belt must always be
engaged in the correct buckle for that seat.
Otherwise the belt will not be fully effective
and the danger of injury increases.
Adjusting the seat belts
Always position seat belts properly for maximum
safety.
Fig.
222 Adjusting shoulder/lap belt
The following features allow you to match the
position of the seat belt to your height:
- Belt height adjustment*
- Seat height adjustment (front seats)
/K WARNING
- The shoulder section of the belt should be
fitted across the centre of the collar bone
close to the body. To fasten the belt, take
hold of the belt above the latch plate and
pull it slowly down across your chest. Wear
the lap portion of the seat belt as low as
possibLe over the hips so that there is no
pressure on the lower abdomen. The belt
should always be worn tightly
^>Fig.
222.
Pull the belt tight if necessary to take up
any slack.
-Always make sure that belt is positioned
properly. Incorrectly worn seat belts can
give rise to injuries even in a minor coLlision.
- Seat belts worn too loose can result in
inju
ries because they allow excessive forward
movement in a crash; the occupant will be
brought to a sudden stop by the belt web
bing.
Wearing and adjusting the seat belts
during pregnancy
To
afford the best protection for the unborn
child it is important for the mother to wear the
seat belt properly at all times.
Fig.
223 Positioning seat belts during pregnancy
Women should always ensure they adjust the
seat belt correctly during pregnancy.
•
Adjust the front seat and head restraint cor
rectly before putting on the seat belt
tapage
58, Front seats.
•
To fasten the belt, take hold of the latch plate
and pull it slowly down across your chest. Wear
the lap portion of the seat belt as low as possi
ble over the hips so that there is no pressure on
the stomach
OF/'g.
223,
<=> A-
•
Insert the latch plate into the buckle for the ap
propriate seat and push it down until it is se
curely locked with an audible click
^>page
277,
Fig.
221.
•
Pull the belt to check that it is now securely fas
tened.
•
278