ECU AUDI A5 2021 User Guide

8W7012721BB
Sitting correctly and safely

Sitting correctly and
safely
Correct passenger
seating position
General information
As the driver, you are responsible for making sure
every passenger is sitting correctly in their seat
and maintaining this seating position while driv-
ing. Make sure that:
— Every passenger in the vehicle has adjusted his
or her seat correctly > page 69
— The steering wheel is adjusted correctly
=> page 73
— The mirrors are adjusted so that there is a suffi-
cient view of the area around the vehicle
=> page 63
— Every passenger in the vehicle has his or her
head restraint adjusted correctly > page 73
— Every passenger in the vehicle has his or her
safety belt fastened correctly > page 75
— The activation status of the front passenger's
airbag is suitable for the passenger in the front
passenger's seat > page 82
— Children are secured in suitable child safety
seats that are secured to appropriate vehicle
seats > page 84. Read and observe the impor-
tant safety information pertaining to the use of
child safety seats on the front passenger's seat
= A in General information on page 85.
Examples of incorrect seating positions
Safety belts can only provide its optimal protec-
tion when they are routed correctly. Incorrect
seating positions significantly reduce the protec-
tive functions of the safety belts and increase the
risk of injury due to incorrect belt routing.
The following list includes examples of seating
positions that could be dangerous for all vehicle
occupants. This is not a complete list. The pur-
pose is to provide examples to increase your
awareness of the topic. The following points ap-
ply when the vehicle is in motion:
— Never stand inside the vehicle.
— Never stand on the seats.
— Never kneel on the seats.
— Never tilt your backrest too far back.
— Never lean against the instrument panel.
— Never lie down on the rear bench seat.
— Never sit only on the front section of the seat.
— Never sit sideways on the seat.
— Never lean against the window.
— Never place your feet out of the window.
— Never place your feet on the instrument panel.
— Never place your feet on the seat cushion.
— Never ride in the footwell.
— Never sit on the armrests.
— Never drive or ride in a seat without fastening
your safety belt.
— Never ride in the luggage compartment.

ZA WARNING
Incorrect seating positions, failure to wear a
safety belt, or being too close to an airbag in-
crease the risk of serious or fatal injury to ve-
hicle occupants, especially if the airbags de-
ploy and come into contact with occupants
who are not seated correctly. Note the impor-
tant information and warnings in the chapters
for the topics given above.
Gi) Tips
If you or other vehicle passengers have physi-
cal limitations that prevent sitting in a correct
position, modifications to the vehicle may be
necessary. For more information, contact an
authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility, or call Audi customer support
at 1-800-822-2834.

Front seats
General information
Make sure that:
— You can press the pedals down completely
while your legs are slightly bent
— The distance between your upper body and the
steering wheel or instrument panel is at least
10 inches (25 cm)
— The distance between your knees and the in-
strument panel is at least 4 inches (10 cm)
69
>

Sitting correctly and safely

Depending on the vehicle equipment, the follow-
ing options may be available.
Reset seat position
You can adjust the position of the front passeng-
er’s seat to match the driver's seat.
Driver seat entry assistance
Entry assistance makes it easier to enter or exit
the vehicle.
Front passenger seat adjustment
You can adjust the front passenger's side with the
driver's seat buttons.
(Fatt)
Applies to: vehicles with easy entry function
SSA stele


B8W-0269.





Fig. 68 Front seat: power entry assistance (version 2)
Entry assistance makes it easier for the rear pas-
sengers to enter and leave the vehicle.
Power entry assistance (version 1)
> Lift the handle @ © fig. 67 and fold the seat
backrest forward.

2) Requirement: the vehicle battery must have a sufficient
charge level.
72
> To move the seat all the way forward or to the
original position, press the (2) button briefly.
You can stop the seat by pressing the button
again.
> You can move the seat all the way forward even
when the backrest is upright. Press and hold
the button @) until the seat reaches your pre-
ferred position.
Power entry assistance (version 2)
Pull on the loop @ © fig. 68 and fold the back-
rest forward (2).
> To move the seat all the way forward or to the
original position, press the @) button briefly.
You can stop the seat by pressing the button
again.

ZA WARNING
Always make sure the front seats are upright
and securely locked in place.
— Power entry assistance also works when the
ignition is switched off) or when the vehicle
key is removed, so that rear seat passengers
can still move to the front of the vehicle in
an emergency situation. To reduce the risk
of injury, children should never be left unat-
tended in the vehicle for this reason.
@) Tips
To prevent the head restraints from running
into the headliner, the power adjustable head
restraints* automatically move forward or up-
ward when the seat is adjusted.
eames Cera ti
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. >

Sitting correctly and safely

— The upper edge of the head restraint is as even
as possible with the top of your head
— The head restraint is as close as possible to the
back of the head
— The head restraints in any occupied rear seats
are all the way up

Z\ WARNING
— There is one head restraint for each seat. All
vehicle occupants must adjust the head re-
straint correctly before every trip. Having
head restraints that are not adjusted cor-
rectly or not installed in the vehicle increas-
es the risk of a neck injury during sudden or
unexpected driving or braking maneuvers or
in a collision.
— Only remove the rear seat head restraints if
it is necessary to install a child safety seat
=> page 84. Stow the removed head re-
straints securely, for example in the luggage
compartment. Reinstall the head restraints
immediately once the child safety seat has
been removed. Driving without head re-
straints increases the risk of serious neck in-
juries.
rede matt le Mes Tiny
Applies to: vehicles with adjustable head restraints



RAZ-0683



Fig. 71 Front seat: adjusting the head restraint
The settings depend on the vehicle equipment.
Adjusting the head restraints
Applies to: vehicles with manually adjustable head restraints
> To adjust the head restraint upward or forward,
slide it until it locks into place.
> To adjust the head restraint downward or back-
ward, press the button on the side and slide the
74
head restraint. Release the button and slide the
head restraint farther until it locks into place.
Power head restraint adjustment
Applies to vehicles with power adjustable head restraints
> To adjust the head restraint upward or down-
ward, press the button @ > page 70, fig. 64 or
=> page 70, fig. 65 upward or downward.
> To adjust the head restraint forward or back-
ward as needed, press the side button and slide
the head restraint in the desired direction until
it locks into place.
mae Mee ay
Applies to: vehicles with adjustable head restraints



Fig. 72 Rear seat: adjusting or removing the head restraint
Adjusting the head restraints
> To adjust the head restraint upward, slide it un-
til it locks into place.
> To adjust the head restraint downward, press
the button @) and slide the head restraint. Re-
lease the button and slide the head restraint
farther until it locks into place.
Removing the headrests
Applies to: vehicles with removable head restraints
> Fold the backrest forward slightly > page 94.
> Move the head restraint upward all the way.
> Insert a suitable object, such as the extended
vehicle key or mechanical key, into the release
point @ on the inside or outside of the base.
> Press the button (2) and pull the head restraint
out of the backrest.
Installing the headrests
> Fold the backrest forward slightly > page 94.
> Slide the posts on the head restraint down into
the guides until the posts click into place.

8W7012721BB
Sitting correctly and safely

> Press the button (2) and slide the head restraint
all the way down. It should not be possible to
remove the head restraint from the backrest
without pressing the button.
Safety belts
Each seat is equipped with a three-point safety
belt. Safety belts that are worn correctly are the
most effective way to reduce the risk of serious or
fatal injuries in a collision. Therefore, wear your
safety belt correctly and make sure that all vehi-
cle passengers are also wearing their safety belts
correctly when the vehicle is moving.
Even though your vehicle is equipped with an air-
bag system, every vehicle passenger must still al-
ways wear the appropriate safety belt. In addi-
tion to their normal protective function, safety
belts also hold vehicle occupants in the correct
seating position in the event of a collision so that
the airbags can deploy correctly and provide addi-
tional protection. Safety belts provide protection
during collisions when the airbags do not deploy
or if they have already deployed.

ZA WARNING
The risk of serious or fatal injury increases if
the safety belt is not fastened, if it is worn in-
correctly, or if it is damaged.
— All vehicle occupants, including the driver,
must fasten their safety belts correctly be-
fore every trip and must always keep their
safety belts fastened during the trip, regard-
less of whether the seat is equipped with an
airbag or not. This also applies to children
that are seated in a child safety seat that is
appropriate for their weight and age and
that is secured with a safety belt.
— In the event of a collision, vehicle occupants
that are not wearing safety belts could be
propelled through the vehicle interior and
collide with vehicle components, such as the
steering wheel, instrument panel, wind-
shield, or doors. In some situations, vehicle
occupants could also be ejected from the ve-

hicle. Vehicle occupants in the rear seats



who do not wear safety belts not only en-
danger themselves, but also other people in
the vehicle.
— Only one person may be fastened with a
safety belt at a time. Never secure more
than one person, including children, with a
single safety belt.
— Never allow children or infants to ride on an-
other person's lap and be belted into the
safety belt with them.
— Insert the belt buckle only in the belt latch
belonging to the corresponding seat, so that
the protective function is not impaired.
— To ensure the maximum protective function
of the safety belts, all vehicle passengers
must sit in the correct seating position
=> page 69.
— Check the condition of your vehicle’s safety
belts regularly > page 268. If you find dam-
age to the belt webbing, the belt connec-
tions, the retractor, or the buckle, have the
damaged safety belt replaced by an author-
ized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service
Facility.
— The safety belts must not be removed or
modified in any way. Do not attempt to re-
pair the safety belts yourself.
— Safety belts that are strained during an acci-
dent must be replaced by an authorized
Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facili-
ty.

75

Sitting correctly and safely

Correct safety belt positioning

B4H-0751



RAZ-0696



Fig. 74 Safety belt positioning for pregnant women
Fastened safety belts only offer optimal protec-
tion during an accident and reduce the risk of se-
rious injury or death when they are positioned
correctly. Furthermore, the correct safety belt
position holds the vehicle occupant in place so
that a deployed airbag can provide maximum
protection. Therefore, always fasten the safety
belt and make sure it is positioned correctly
> fig. 73.
To ensure the safety belt is positioned correctly,
make sure of the following points:
—The lap portion of the safety belt must be locat-
ed across the lap.
—The shoulder portion of the safety belt must
rest over the center of the shoulder.
— The safety belt must always rest flat and se-
curely on the body.
For pregnant women, the safety belt must rest
evenly across the chest and as low and flat as
possible on the lap, so that no pressure is applied
to the lower abdomen. This should be done
throughout the entire pregnancy > fig. 74.
76


AN WARNING
Incorrect safety belt positioning can cause se-
rious injury in the event of an accident or dur-
ing sudden braking or driving maneuvers.
— Never drive with the backrest reclined ex-
tremely far. The more the backrest is tilted
back, the greater the risk of injury due to the
safety belt being routed incorrectly.
— The safety belt itself or a loose safety belt
can cause serious injuries if it shifts onto
soft areas of the body, such as the stomach.
— The shoulder portion of the safety belt must
lie over the center of the shoulder and
chest, and never under the arm, behind the
back, or across the neck or face.
— The lap portion of the safety belt must lie
across the lap and never over the stomach.
— The safety belt must lie flat and securely on
the upper part of the body and the lap.
— The belt webbing must not be pinched or
twisted, or rub against sharp edges.
— If the safety belt height is set incorrectly
and/or the safety belt is routed incorrectly,
then the safety belt's protective function
will be impaired in the event of an accident.
Make sure the safety belt is at the right
height and is routed correctly for the pas-
senger using it.
— A safety belt that is too loose may lead to in-
juries during an accident, because your body
will move farther forward due to kinetic en-
ergy and will be stopped abruptly by the
belt.
— Heavily bulky, loose clothing (for example, a
coat over a sports jacket) may prevent the
seat and safety belts from functioning cor-
rectly.
— Do not position the safety belt over hard or
breakable objects (such as glasses, pens,
etc.).
— The lap belt portion of the safety belt must
sit as low as possible on the lap of pregnant
women and lie flat under the belly.

() Note
Make sure that there are no hook-and-loop
fasteners or sharp objects such as zippers or >

Sitting correctly and safely

> To move the belt higher, slide the safety belt re-
lay @) upward.
> To move the belt lower, press the release but-
ton @ and slide the safety belt relay 2) down-
ward.
> To check if the safety belt relay is securely
locked in place, pull firmly on the belt.
G) Tips
You can also adjust the height of the front
seats to change the position of the safety
belts.
ON eal ime ad olay
Belt retractor lock
The safety belts on the rear seats and on the
front passenger seat are equipped with a belt re-
tractor lock.
> If you secure a child safety seat with a safety
belt, the belt retractor lock on the safety belt
may need to be activated. Follow the instruc-
tions from the child safety seat manufacturer.
> When a vehicle passenger has fastened a safety
belt, the belt retractor lock should not be acti-
vated. If the belt retractor lock has been acti-
vated unexpectedly, deactivate it.
Deactivating or activating the belt retractor lock
=> page 87.
Safety belt retractor
The safety belts are equipped with an automatic
belt retractor. This automatic retractor allows the
safety belt to be pulled all the way out when the
belt is pulled slowly. However, the automatic re-
tractor locks during sudden braking maneuvers.
It also locks the belts when accelerating, driving
uphill, and driving around curves.
Belt force limiter
Safety belts with belt force limiters reduce the
force placed on the body by the safety belts dur-
ing a collision.
Safety belt pretensioners
In certain driving situations, safety belts may be
tightened with reversible belt tensioners when
78
you start driving. If the safety belt is too loose, it
will be tightened so that the belt will rest closer
to the body.
In some collisions, pyrotechnic belt tensioners
may secure the safety belts so that they cannot
loosen. This reduces forward movement by the
vehicle passengers.

ZA WARNING
The pyrotechnic system can only provide pro-
tection during one collision. If the pyrotechnic
belt tensioners deploy, the pretensioning sys-
tem must be replaced by an authorized Audi

dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility.
@ Tips
Smoke may be released when pyrotechnic belt
tensioners deploy. This is not a sign of a vehi-
cle fire.

Memory function
General information
Applies to: vehicles with memory function
With the memory function, you can save and call
up seat profiles using the memory buttons in the
door trim panel.
Depending on vehicle equipment, some settings
such as the driver’s seat and exterior mirror posi-
tion can be stored.
Storing and recalling a seat profile
Applies to: vehicles with memory function
The memory function buttons are located in the
door trim panel.
Storing a seat profile

SEE > Press the button. If the LED in the button
turns on, a seat profile can be stored.
> Push one of the numbered memory buttons. A
tone confirms that the settings were stored.

Recalling a seat profile
> When the a door is open and the ignition is
switched off, press the memory button once >

8W7012721BB
Sitting correctly and safely

briefly. The seat will be fully adjusted to the
settings in the seat profile.
> If the door is closed or the ignition is switched
on, press and hold the memory button until the
seat is fully adjusted to the settings in the seat
profile.


ZX WARNING
— To reduce the risk of an accident, the seat
setting can only be recalled when the vehicle
is stationary.
— In an emergency, the recall process can be
canceled by pressing the seat adjustment
button on that seat.

Airbag system
ZA WARNING
— If you have not fastened your safety belt,
you are in an incorrect seating position, or
you are too close to the airbag system, the
airbag system will not be able to protect
you. This increases the risk of serious or fa-
tal
injuries. Make sure that every vehicle
passenger has their safety belt correctly fas-
tened and is sitting in a correct seating posi-
tion > page 69. This is necessary regardless
of whether the seat is equipped with an air-
bag or not.
— Never place your feet on the instrument
panel, out of the window, or on the seat sur-
faces. To help ensure that the airbag system
can deploy correctly, never bend forward or
lean on the door or the side window. Other-
wise, serious and possibly fatal injuries can
occur if the airbags deploy.

— People, animals, or objects between the
passengers and the airbag system can inter-
fere with the correct deployment of the air-
bag or can be thrown through the vehicle in-
terior, increasing the risk of serious or fatal
injuries. Make sure that nothing is located
between the vehicle occupants and the air-
bag system. Do not secure or transport any
objects within the deployment zone of the

airbag systems, especially on the steering

wheel, on the instrument panel, on the
doors, on the windows, or in the footwell.
— Never put stickers on the airbag system cov-
ers or cover them with any objects.
— Only lightweight clothing should be hung
from the garment hooks in the vehicle. Do
not use clothes hangers to hang clothing.
The pockets of the clothing must not con-
tain any heavy, breakable, or sharp-edged
objects. This could impair the effectiveness
of the side curtain airbags.
— You must not use seat or protective covers
that are not specifically approved for use on
Audi seats with side airbags. Since the side
airbags deploy from the seat backrest, such
covers could impair the protective function
of the side airbags.
— Damage to the original seat covers in the
side airbag deployment area must always be
repaired by an authorized Audi dealer or au-
thorized Audi Service Facility.
— Airbag system components are installed at
various locations in your vehicle. Incorrect
work or repairs on the vehicle could damage
the airbag system components or impair
their functionality. This may prevent the air-
bags from deploying or cause them to de-
ploy incorrectly in the event of an accident,
which increases the risk of serious or fatal
injuries. Only have an authorized Audi dealer
or authorized Audi Service Facility make re-
pairs or modifications to a vehicle.
— The airbag system can only provide protec-
tion during one collision. If there is another
collision, the airbag system will not deploy
again. If the airbag system has deployed,
have it replaced immediately by an author-
ized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service
Facility.
— Fine dust may appear if the airbags deploy.
This is completely normal and does not indi-
cate a fire in the vehicle. The fine dust can ir-
ritate the skin and mucous membranes in
the eyes and can cause difficulty breathing,
particularly for individuals who have or have
had asthma or other health issues that af-
fect breathing. Exit the vehicle or open the
windows or doors to get access to fresh air.

79

Sitting correctly and safely

Always make sure the indicator light corresponds
to the occupancy of the front passenger's seat.
— An adult or individual of similar size in the
front passenger's seat: the front passenger's
airbag must be activated, therefore
PASSENGER AIR BAG ON @ must remain
turned on.
— An individual of smaller size (for example, an
adolescent or small adult) in the front pas-
senger's seat: the front passenger's airbag
must be activated, so
PASSENGER AIR BAG ON @ must stay on.
— Child in a child safety seat on the front pas-
senger's seat: the front passenger's airbag
must be deactivated, so
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF 3%; must stay on.
— Front passenger's seat not occupied: the front
passenger's airbag must be deactivated, so
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF ; must stay on.

ZA WARNING
— An adult or a person with a small stature
(such as a young person or small adult) seat-
ed on the front passenger's seat will not be
protected by the passenger's airbag in the
event of a collision if the passenger's airbag
is deactivated. This increases the risk of in-
jury and death. Always make sure that
PASSENGER AIR BAG ON @ remains on
while driving. If
PASSENGER AIR BAG ON @ does not
turn on, make sure the front passenger is
sitting correctly in the seat > page 69 and
that there is nothing covering the front pas-
senger's seat (such as blankets or pillows).
If PASSENGER AIR BAG ON ®@ still does
not turn on, the front passenger's seat must
not be used. Drive to an authorized Audi
dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility
and have the airbag system inspected.
—Achild ina child safety seat on the front
passenger's seat - especially in a rear-facing
child safety seat - can receive a severe im-
pact if the front passenger's airbag deploys,
which increases the risk of serious or fatal
injury. Always secure child safety seats on
the rear seats. If special circumstances re-
quire the use of a child safety seat on the

84

front passenger's seat, always make sure
that PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF ; stays
on while driving. If
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF &Â¥; does not
turn on, remove the child safety seat and in-
stall it again according to the child safety
seat manufacturer instructions. If
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF &%; still does
not turn on, the front passenger's seat must
not be used. Drive to an authorized Audi
dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility
and have the airbag system inspected.
— Fluids, electronic devices, or mechanical
damage on the front passenger's seat may
cause the front passenger seat occupant de-
tection to malfunction. The system may
then incorrectly detect if the front passeng-
er's seat is occupied. As a result, it could de-
ploy the front passenger’s airbag incorrectly
or fail to deploy it, which increases the risk
of serious or fatal injury. Make sure that no
wet objects (such as a wet hand towel) and
no fluids come into contact with the front
passenger's seat cushion. If the front pas-
senger's seat becomes wet, dry it immedi-
ately. Make sure no electronic devices (such
as a laptop or a retrofitted seat heater) are
on the front passenger's seat. Do not trans-
port any objects on or under the front pas-
senger's seat.
— Seat covers or protective covers may prevent
the advanced airbag system from correctly
detecting child safety seats or passengers in
the front passenger's seat. You must not use
seat covers or protective covers on the front
passenger's seat that are not specifically ap-
proved for use on Audi seats with an ad-
vanced airbag system.

Child safety seats
General information
When installing and using child safety seats, fol-
low the information in this Owner's Manual, the
applicable state and federal regulations, and the
manufacturer instructions for the child safety
seat.

8W7012721BB
Sitting correctly and safely

You can also obtain useful and current informa-
tion from the following sources:
U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Adminis-
tration
http://www.nhtsa.gov
http://www.safercar.gov
National SAFE KIDS Campaign
http://www.safekids.org
SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A.
http://www.carseat.org
Transport Canada Information Centre
http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety
Audi Customer Experience Center
https://www.audiusa.com/help/contact-us
https://www.audi.ca/ca/web/en/models/layer/
contact.html


Z\ WARNING
To reduce the risk of serious or fatal injuries,
children must always be secured in the vehicle
with a child safety seat that is appropriate for
their body size, weight, and age.
— Children ages 12 and under must be trans-
ported using the appropriate child safety
seat. Note differences in regulations be-
tween states and countries.
— Child safety seats secured incorrectly in the
vehicle may cause serious or fatal injuries in
the event of an accident. Always secure the
child safety seat according to the manufac-
turer instructions.
— Children or babies must not under any cir-
cumstances be held on the lap of the driver
or other passengers while driving.
— Do not secure more than one child in a child
safety seat.
— Never allow a child to sit in a child safety
seat unsupervised.
— Never allow children to ride unsecured in the
vehicle or to stand or kneel on the seats
while driving. In the event of an accident, a
child could be propelled through the vehicle.
This can cause serious or fatal injuries for
the child and passengers.
— If children use an incorrect seating position

while driving, they have a higher risk of in-

jury during a sudden braking maneuver or
accident. This especially applies to children
in the front passenger's seat or children who
have their head near the side airbag deploy-
ment area, if the airbag system is deployed
during an accident. This incorrect seating
position can cause severe or even fatal inju-
ries.
Make sure there is enough space in front of
the child in the child safety seat. If necessa-
ry, adjust the angle and position of the seat
in front of the child safety seat.
The rear side of a forward-facing child safety
seat should be positioned as close as possi-
ble to the backrest on the vehicle seat. If the
head restraints make it difficult to install a
child safety seat, adjust or remove them if
necessary > page 73. Reinstall the head re-
straints immediately once the child safety
seat has been removed.
Always make sure that the backrest on the
seat where the child safety seat is installed
is securely locked in place and cannot move
forward. Otherwise, the backrest where the
child safety seat is secured could move for-
ward in the event of an accident or other
emergency situation.
NEVER use a rear-facing child safety seat on
a seat with an ACTIVATED FRONT AIRBAG;
this could cause DEATH or SERIOUS INJU-
RIES to a CHILD.
— Always secure child safety seats on the
rear seats. If exceptional circumstances re-
quire the child safety seat to be placed on
the front passenger's seat, then the front
Passenger's airbag must be deactivated.
Always make sure that
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF #; stays on
while driving. If
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF #%; does not
turn on, remove the child safety seat and
install it again according to the child safe-
ty seat manufacturer instructions. If
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF %;; still
does not turn on, the front passenger's
seat must not be used. Drive to an author-
ized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service


8s

Sitting correctly and safely


Facility and have the airbag system in-
spected.
— If you must use a forward-facing child safety
seat on the front passenger's seat, move the
seat as far back as possible so that it is as
far as possible from the front passenger's
airbag. While doing this, make sure the seat
can be adjusted all the way. A child in a child
safety seat on the front passenger's seat can
receive a severe impact if the front passeng-
er's airbag deploys, which increases the risk
of serious or fatal injury.
— Replace the child safety seat after an acci-
dent because there could be damage that is
not visible.
— Even if a child is not sitting in the child safe-
ty seat, the child safety seat must be se-
cured. An unsecured child safety seat may
be thrown through the vehicle interior dur-
ing sudden braking maneuvers or an acci-
dent.
Correct positioning for children
Always secure children in a child safety seat de-
signed for the body size, weight, and age of the
child.

You can secure child safety seats in your vehicle
using the lower LATCH anchors or the safety
belts. You can also secure child safety seats to
the top tether anchor. Depending on the child
safety seat, it may also be necessary to secure it
to the top tether anchor. In Canada, securing for-
ward-facing child safety seats to the top tether
anchors is required by law.
Always transport children in the rear seats
Accident statistics show that children that are se-
cured correctly in the rear seats are safer than in
front seats. Always transport children in suitable
child safety seats secured on the rear seats.
In exceptional circumstances: transporting
children in the front passenger's seat
If exceptional circumstances require the child
safety seat to be placed on the front passenger's
seat, then the front passenger's airbag must be
deactivated. Please note the important informa-
86
tion for this > page 82, Advanced airbag system.
If you must secure a forward-facing child safety
seat, move the front passenger's seat as far back
as possible so that it is as far as possible from the
front passenger's airbag. While doing this, make
sure the seat can be adjusted all the way.
Only switch to a larger child safety seat when
absolutely necessary
Switch to a larger child safety seat only when ab-
solutely necessary. Secure your child using a safe-
ty belt without a child safety seat only if all of the
following statements are true:
— The child is large enough to sit upright in the
seat
— The child is able to sit with his or her back rest-
ing completely on the seat backrest
—The child is able to sit with his or her knees
bent over the edge of the seat surface
—The child is able to sit with both of his or her
feet completely touching the floor in the foot-
well
— The lap portion of the safety belt lies flat and
securely over the hip area and never over the
stomach
— The shoulder portion of the safety belt lies flat
and securely over the center of the shoulder
and
the chest, and never under the arm, behind
the back, or over the neck or face.
—The child is able to maintain this seating posi-
tion throughout the entire trip
Read and follow the important information and
warnings regarding the correct use of safety belts
=> page 75.
G) Tips
— Child safety seats can also be secured to
seats with side airbags. In the event of an
accident, children can also be protected by
the side airbags if the child is correctly se-
cured in a suitable child safety seat that is
attached correctly.
— The lower LATCH anchors as well as the
safety belt may be required to correctly in-
stall some child safety seats. Using both at
the same time is permitted, provided that >