Alfa Romeo MiTo 2010 Owner handbook (in English)

140SAFETY
GROUP 2 fig. 10
Children from 15 to 25 kg can be secured using the car seat belts
directly. The child seat is only needed to position the child correct-
ly with respect to the belts so that the diagonal section crosses
the child’s chest and never the neck and is snug on the hips, not
the abdomen.
GROUP 3 fig. 11
For children from 22 kg to 36 kg the child’s chest is so small that
a spacing seat back is no longer required. Figure 11 shows prop-
er child seat positioning on the rear seat.
fig. 10A0J0099mfig. 11A0J0100m
The diagrams are indicative and provided for as-
sembly purposes only. Refer to the instructions sup-
plied with the child seat when fitting.
Some child restraint systems for weight groups 0
and 1 have a rear attachment and seat belts for
securing the child. Due to their weight, they may
be dangerous if incorrectly mounted (e.g. if fastened to
the car seat belts with a cushion in between). Follow the
assembly instructions carefully.
131-152 Alfa MiTo GB 2ed:131-152 Alfa MiTo GB 23-12-2009 12:37 Pagina 140

SAFETY141
2
PASSENGER SEAT COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATIONS ON UNIVERSAL CHILD’S SEAT USE
The car complies with the new European Directive 2000/3/EC which governs the arrangement possibilities for child restraints on the
various seats of the car as shown in the following table:
Key:
U = suitable for child restraint systems of the “Universal” category, according to European Standard EEC-R44 for the specified “Groups”.
Passenger Passenger rear
GroupWeight ranges frontside and central
Group 0, 0+ up to 13 kg U U
Group 1 9-18 kg U U
Group 2 15-25 kg U U
Group 3 22-36 kg U U
131-152 Alfa MiTo GB 2ed:131-152 Alfa MiTo GB 23-12-2009 12:37 Pagina 141

142SAFETY
Main safety rules to be followed
when carrying children:
❍Install the child seats on the rear seat, which is the most pro-
tected position in the event of an accident;
❍when the passenger-side front air bag is deactivated always
check that the
Fwarning light remains permanently lit to
confirm the deactivation;
❍carefully follow the instructions supplied with the child restraint
system, which are mandatory by law. Keep the instructions in
the car along with the other papers and this handbook. Do
not use second-hand child seats without instructions;
❍always check the seat belt is well fastened by pulling the belt;
❍only one child is to be strapped to each retaining system;
❍always check the seat belts do not rest around the child’s throat;
❍while travelling, do not let the child sit incorrectly or release the
belts;
❍Never carry children on your lap, even newborns. No-one could
hold on to a child in the event of an accident;
❍In the event of an accident, replace the child seat with a new
one.
131-152 Alfa MiTo GB 2ed:131-152 Alfa MiTo GB 23-12-2009 12:37 Pagina 142

SAFETY143
2
“ISOFIX” CHILD RESTRAINT
ASSEMBLY SETUP
Provision has been made on the car to mount a Universal Isofix
child restraint system, a new European standardised system for car-
rying children safely.
It is possible to mount at the same time both the traditional re-
straint system and the Isofix one. Fig. 12 shows a child’s seat by
way of example. The Universal Isofix child’s seat covers weight
group: 1.
Other weight groups are covered by a specific Isofix child seat
that can be used only if specifically designed, tested and approved
for his vehicle (see the list of vehicles accompanying the child seat).
fig. 12A0J0093m
WARNING The centre rear seat is not certified for any type of child’s
seat.
131-152 Alfa MiTo GB 2ed:131-152 Alfa MiTo GB 23-12-2009 12:37 Pagina 143

144SAFETY
INSTALLATION OF ISOFIX CHILD SEAT
Attach the child seat to the dedicated lower metal rings A-fig. 13
located between the backrest and the cushion, then fasten the
upper belt (that is supplied together with the child seat) to the spe-
cial mountings B-fig. 14 located at the rear of the backrest on the
rear seat.
It is possible to mount both the traditional restraint system and the
“Universal Isofix” one. Remember that when using a “Universal
Isofix” child seat, you can only use approved seats with the mark-
ing EKE R44/03 “Universal Isofix”.
The “Universal Isofix” “Duo Plus” child seat is available from Lin-
eaccessori Alfa Romeo. For any further installation/details on us-
age, refer to the “Instruction Manual” for the child seat.
fig. 13A0J0092m
Fit the child seat when the car is stationary. The
child seat is correctly anchored to the brackets
when you hear the click. Follow the instructions for
assembly, disassembly and positioning that the manu-
facturer must supply with the child seat.
fig. 14A0J0335m
131-152 Alfa MiTo GB 2ed:131-152 Alfa MiTo GB 23-12-2009 12:37 Pagina 144

SAFETY145
2
PASSENGER SEAT COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATIONS ON ISOFIX CHILD SEAT USE
The table below, according to ECE 16 European Directive, shows the different installation possibilities of Isofix restraint systems on seats
fitted with Isofix fasteners.
IUF: suitable for Isofix child restraint systems facing forwards, universal class (fitted with third upper fastener), type-approved for use in this weight
group.
X: Isofix position not suited for child restraint systems in this weight group and/or in this size class
Weight groupOrientation Grade Rear passenger
child seatIsofix size left side right side
Portable baby seatFacing backwards F X X
Facing backwards G X X
Group 0 up to 10 kg Facing backwards E X X
Facing backwards E X X
Gruppo 0 + fino a 13 kg Facing backwards D X X
Facing backwards C X X
Facing backwards D X X
Facing backwards C X X
Group 1 from 9 to 18 kg Facing forwards B IUF IUF
Facing forwards BI IUF IUF
Facing forwards A X X
131-152 Alfa MiTo GB 2ed:131-152 Alfa MiTo GB 23-12-2009 12:37 Pagina 145

146SAFETY
FRONT AIRBAGS
The vehicle is equipped with multi-stage front air bags (“Smart
bag”) for the driver and passenger and knee air bag for the dri-
ver.
“SMART BAG” SYSTEM
(MULTISTAGE FRONT AIR BAGS)
The front airbags (driver’s and passenger’s) and the driver knee
air bag have been designed to protect the occupants in the event
of head-on crashes of medium-high severity, by placing the cush-
ion between the occupant and the steering wheel or dashboard.
The air bag do not replace, but rather compliment the use of seat
belts, which should always be worn. In the event of a collision, a
person not wearing a seat belt may be thrown forward and come
into contact with the bag before it has fully opened. The protection
offered by the bag is reduced in such a case.
Front airbags may not be activated in the following situations:
❍in collisions against highly deformable objects not affecting the
car front surface (e.g. bumper collision against guard rail, etc.);
❍car penetration under other vehicles or protective barriers (e.g.
trucks or guard rails);
in these instances they could not provide any additional protec-
tion compared with seat belts, so their deployment would not be
useful. Non deployment in such cases does not constitute a fault.
FRONT AIRBAG ON DRIVER’S SIDE fig. 15
This is located in a dedicated compartment in the centre of the steer-
ing wheel.
Do not apply stickers or other objects on the steer-
ing wheel, passenger side airbag cover or side up-
holstery on roof. Do not place objects on the pas-
senger side dashboard because these could interfere with
the correct opening of the airbag and cause severe in-
jury to occupants.
fig. 15A0J0047m
131-152 Alfa MiTo GB 2ed:131-152 Alfa MiTo GB 23-12-2009 12:37 Pagina 146

SAFETY147
2
FRONT AIRBAG ON PASSENGER’S SIDE
fig. 16
This is located in a dedicated compartment in the dashboard.
Always drive with your hands on the steering wheel
rim so that the airbag can inflate freely if need-
ed. Do not drive with your body bent forward.
Keep your back straight against the back rest.
fig. 16A0J0050m
Do not arrange child seats facing backwards if the
front airbag on the passenger’s side is enabled. De-
ployment of the airbag in an accident could cause
fatal injuries to the baby regardless of the sever-
ity of the collision. Always deactivate the passen-
ger’s airbag when placing a child seat on the front seat.
Move the passenger’s seat as far back as possible to avoid
contact between the child seat and the dashboard.
Although this is not mandatory by law, the airbag should
be immediately reactivated when children are no longer
carried to ensure better protection for adults.
131-152 Alfa MiTo GB 2ed:131-152 Alfa MiTo GB 23-12-2009 12:37 Pagina 147

148SAFETY
KNEE AIRBAG ON DRIVER’S SIDE fig. 17
This is located in a dedicated compartment under the steering wheel.
It provides additional protection in the event of a frontal impact.
fig. 17A0J0056m
To deactivate the air bags see chapter “1” para-
graph “Menu Items”.
Deactivating the passenger-side front Air
Bag and Side Bag
When carrying a chid on the front seat, deactivate the passenger-
side front Air Bag and Side Bag. With the air bags deactivated, the
“warning light is lit in the instrument panel.
131-152 Alfa MiTo GB 2ed:131-152 Alfa MiTo GB 23-12-2009 12:37 Pagina 148

SAFETY149
2
SIDE AIRBAGS
(SIDE BAG - WINDOW BAG)
The car is fitted with front side bags for driver and passenger for
protecting the chest, and window bags for protecting front and rear
passengers’ heads.
FRONT SIDE BAGS fig. 18
These are comprised of two types of bag located in the front back
rests, which protect the chest area of passengers in the event of
a side impact of medium-high severity.
HEAD PROTECTION SIDE AIR BAGS
(WINDOW BAGS) fig. 19
These are comprised of two “curtain” bags located behind the side
cover of the roof and protected by dedicated covers. They protect
the heads of the front passengers in the event of a side impact.
The airbags are not deployed in the event of side impact of low
severity (for which the restraining action of the seat belts is suffi-
cient). It is therefore always necessary to wear seat belts.
In the event of a side impact, the system provides best protection
if the passenger sits on the seat in a correct position, thus allow-
ing correct window bag deployment.
fig. 18A0J0103mfig. 19A0J0051m
131-152 Alfa MiTo GB 2ed:131-152 Alfa MiTo GB 23-12-2009 12:37 Pagina 149