belt DODGE SPRINTER 2008 2.G User Guide

44 SafetyOccupant safety
2
Vehicle deceleration or acceleration and
the direction of the force are essentially
determined by:\4
the distribution of the force during
the impact
\4
the collision angle
\4
the deformation characteristics of
the vehicle
\4
the composition of the object in-
volved in the collision, for example
the other vehicle
Factors that cannot be seen or mea-
sured until after the collision are not
used to determine whether the airbag
should be triggered and are not decisive
for this.The vehicle may be substantially deformed
without an airbag being triggered, for ex-
ample if only relatively easily-deformable
vehicle parts such as the hood or fenders
are affected by the collision and the re-
quired deceleration threshold is not
reached. On the other hand, airbags may
be triggered even though the vehicle only
displays minor deformation, if, for exam-
ple, rigid vehicle parts such as a longitudi-
nal member are affected by the impact,
thus causing vehicle deceleration to ex-
ceed the pre-determined threshold.
Emergency tensioning retractors,
belt force limitersIf the vehicle is equipped with a driver’s
airbag, the driver’s and the passenger’s
seat belts are equipped with emergency
tensioning retractors.
A belt force limiter additionally installed
in the seat belt reduces the load exerted
by the seat belt on the occupant when it
is triggered.
Emergency tensioning retractors ten-
sion the seat belts in an accident, pulling
them close against the body.
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45 Safety
Occupant safety
2
When the ignition is on, the emergency
tensioning retractor is activated:\4
only if the restraint systems are op-
erational (the
1
-warning lamp
comes on for approximately 4 sec-
onds after the ignition is switched
on.) (
\2
page 41).
\4
in the event of a head-on or rear-end
collision, if there is a high rate of ve-
hicle acceleration or deceleration in
the initial stages of a collision
\4
in the event of a side impact, if the
vehicle suddenly decelerates or ac-
celerates in a lateral direction at the
initial stage of the impact and the ve-
hicle is equipped with thorax /
sidebags and / or windowbags.If the emergency tensioning retractors
are triggered, you will hear a bang that is
generally harmless to your hearing. A
small amount of powder may also be re-
leased. The
1
warning lamp lights
up.
iEmergency tensioning retractors do
not correct:\4
incorrect sitting positions
\4
incorrectly worn seat belts
Emergency tensioning retractors do
not pull occupants back towards the
backrest.
Warning
G
If the emergency tensioning retractors
have been triggered, have them replaced
at a qualified specialist workshop which
has the necessary specialist knowledge
and tools to carry out the work required.
Continued
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46 SafetyOccupant safety
2
Warning (Continued)
G
The manufacturer recommends that you
use an authorized Sprinter Dealer for this
purpose. In particular, work relevant to
safety or on safety-related systems must
be carried out at a qualified specialist
workshop.Observe the safety regulations when dis-
posing of emergency tensioning retrac-
tors. You can see a copy of these
regulations at any authorized Sprinter
Dealer.
Airbag systemWarning
G
\4To reduce the risk of serious or fatal
injuries in the event of an accident
with a high rate of deceleration, for
example due to an airbag inflating
within milliseconds, or due to sudden
braking, please observe the following
points:
Continued
Warning (Continued)
G
All vehicle occupants must select a seat
position in which they can wear their seat
belt correctly and which is as far back
from the airbag as possible. The seat po-
sition of the driver must be such that the
vehicle can be driven safely. The distance
from the driver’s seat to the pedals must
be such that the driver can fully depress
the pedals. The distance between the
driver’s chest and the center of the airbag
cover must be more than 25 cm. The driv-
er’s arms should be slightly bent when
holding the steering wheel.
Continued
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47 Safety
Occupant safety
2
Warning (Continued)
G
\4Vehicle occupants should wear their
seat belt correctly at all times and
lean back against the backrest, which
should be positioned as upright as
possible. The head restraints should
support the back of the head at about
eye level.\4Move the passenger’s seat as far to
the rear as possible, especially if a
child is secured in a restraint system
installed on this seat.
Continued
Warning (Continued)
G
\4On vehicles with a passenger’s air-
bag, it is not permitted to secure a
rearward-facing child restraint sys-
tem to the passenger’s seat
(\2page 56). Children in a rearward-
facing child restraint system must be
secured on a suitable rear seat.\4Do not lean forward, for example over
the padded boss of the steering
wheel, especially when the vehicle is
in motion.
Continued
Warning (Continued)
G
\4Only hold the steering wheel by the
outer rim. This allows the airbag to in-
flate fully. If you hold the inside of the
steering wheel, you could be injured if
the airbag were to be triggered.\4Do not put your feet on the dash-
board.\4Do not lean on the doors from inside
the vehicle.\4Make sure that no persons, animals
or objects are present between the
vehicle occupants and the deploy-
ment range of the airbags.
Continued
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50 SafetyOccupant safety
2
Front airbagsThe front airbags are designed to in-
crease protection to the driver’s and
passenger’s/passengers' head and
chest.
The driver’s airbag is located in the
steering wheel housing; the passenger’s
is above the glove box.
1Driver’s airbag
2Passenger’s airbagDriver’s front airbag
1
inflates in front
of the steering wheel; passenger’s front
airbag
2
inflates in front of and above
the glove box and the center console.The driver’s front airbag and passenger’s
front airbag are triggered:
\4
in the initial stages of an accident
with a high rate of vehicle accelera-
tion or deceleration in a longitudinal
direction
\4
if the system determines that airbag
deployment can offer additional pro-
tection to that provided by the seat
belt
\4
independently of other airbags in the
vehicle N91.60-2140-31
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51 Safety
Occupant safety
2
Thorax sidebags*Warning
G
For safety reasons, the manufacturer rec-
ommends that you use seat covers that
have been tested for Sprinter vehicles
and that have a seam for thorax /
sidebags. A thorax / sidebag may other-
wise not inflate correctly and could fail to
provide the intended degree of protection
in the event of a collision. You can obtain
these covers from an authorized Sprinter
Dealer, for example.
Warning
G
To reduce the risk of injury to occupants
if a thorax / sidebag is triggered, make
sure that:
\4no persons, animals or objects are
present between the vehicle occu-
pants and the thorax / sidebag de-
ployment range
\4no accessories, for example cup hold-
ers, are secured to the doors
\4only light items of clothing are hung
from the coat hooks in the vehicle
\4there are no heavy or sharp objects in
the pockets of items of clothing
Warning
G
Observe the following to reduce the risk of
serious or fatal injury if the thorax /
sidebag is triggered:
\4Vehicle occupants – in particular, chil-
dren – must never lean their head
against the area of the window in
which the thorax / sidebag inflates.
\4Vehicle occupants must wear their
seat belt correctly at all times and
lean back against the backrest, which
should be positioned as upright as
possible.
\4Always secure children who are less
than 5 ft (1.50 m) tall or under
12 years of age in a suitable child re-
straint system.
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52 SafetyOccupant safety
2
The purpose of the thorax/sidebags
is
to increase the level of protection for the
thorax (but not the head, neck and arms)
of the occupants on the side of the vehi-
cle on which the impact occurs.
The thorax / sidebags are installed in the
outer sides of the backrests on the driv-
er’s seat and the passenger’s individual
seat
1Thorax sidebagThe thorax sidebags are triggered:\4
in the initial stages of an accident
with a high rate of vehicle accelera-
tion or deceleration in a lateral direc-
tion, for example in the event of a
side impact
\4
on the side on which an impact oc-
curs
\4
if the system determines that airbag
deployment can offer additional pro-
tection to that provided by the seat
belt
\4
independently of the front airbags
In the event of an accident, the thorax
sidebag next to the outer seat side in-
flates between the door and the chest
area of the occupant.
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53 Safety
Occupant safety
2
Windowbags*
iYou will find additional information
about airbag deployment on
(\2
page 48).
You will find additional information
about the triggering of emergency
tensioning retractors and belt force
limiters on (
\2
page 44).
Warning
G
To ensure that windowbags can provide
the intended degree of protection when
deployed, make sure that no persons, an-
imals or objects are present between the
vehicle occupants and the deployment
range of the windowbags.
Warning
G
Observe the following to reduce the risk
of serious or fatal injury if the windowbag
is triggered:
\4Vehicle occupants – in particular,
children – must never lean their head
against the area of the window in
which the windowbag inflates.
\4Vehicle occupants must wear their
seat belt correctly at all times.
\4Always secure children who are less
than 5 ft (1.50 m) tall or under
12 years of age in a suitable child re-
straint system.
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54 SafetyOccupant safety
2
The windowbags are designed to in-
crease protection to the head (but not to
the chest or arms) of the vehicle occu-
pants on the side on which the impact
occurs.
The relevant windowbag is installed in
the side of the roof frame behind the
trim panel between the A and B-pillar.
1WindowbagThe windowbags
are triggered:
\4
in the initial stages of an accident
with a high rate of vehicle accelera-
tion or deceleration in a lateral direc-
tion
\4
on the side on which an impact oc-
curs
\4
independently of the front airbagsiYou will find additional information
about airbag deployment on
(\2
page 48).
You will find additional information
about the triggering of emergency
tensioning retractors and belt force
limiters on (
\2
page 44).
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56 SafetyOccupant safety
2
Child restraint systemsWe recommend all infants and children
be properly restrained at all times while
the vehicle is in motion.
All lap-shoulder belts except the driver’s
seat belt have special seat belt retrac-
tors for secure fastening of child re-
straints.To fasten a child restraint, follow child
restraint instructions for mounting. Then
pull the shoulder belt out completely
and let it retract. During seat belt retrac-
tion, a ratcheting sound can be heard to
indicate that the special seat belt retrac-
tor is activated. The belt is now locked.
Push down on child restraint to take up
any slack.
Warning (Continued)
G
Do not carry heavy or hard objects inside
the vehicle or load compartment unless
they are secured. You will find further in-
formation under “Transporting”
(\2page 276) and “Features”
(\2page 287) in the “Controls in detail”
section.An unsecured or incorrectly positioned load
increases the risk of injury to occupants, par-
ticularly children, in the event of:\4sharp braking
\4a sudden change of direction
\4an accident
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