Safe Seat Altea 2005 User Guide

Safe driving13
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
Correct adjustment of front seat head restraints
Properly adjusted head restraints are an important part of
occupant protection and can redu ce the risk of injuries in
most accident situations.
Adjust the head restraint properly to achieve maximum protection.
– Adjust the head restraint so that its upper edge is at the same
level as the top of your head, or as close as possible to the same
level as the top of your head and, at the very least, at eye
leve l
⇒ fig. 3 and ⇒ fig. 4
Adjusting the head restraints ⇒page 125
WARNING
•
Travelling with the head restrain ts removed or improperly adjusted
increases the risk of severe injuries.
•
Incorrectly adjusted head restraints could result in death in the event of
a collision or accident.
•
Incorrectly adjusted head restraints also increase the risk of injury
during sudden or unexpected driving or braking manoeuvres.
•
The head restraints must always be adjusted according to the oc cu-
pant's size.
Headrests in use*Vehicle occupants are pressed into their seats during a rear end collision. The
resulting body pressure on the backrest activates the crash-active head
restraint* on the front seat, which moves rapidly forwards and upwards at the
same time. This movement reduces the distance between the occupant's
head and the head rest, thus reducing the risk of head injuries such as brain
trauma.
Fig. 3 Properly adjusted
head restraint viewed
from the frontFig. 4 Properly adjusted
head restraint viewed
from the side
altea_ingles Seite 13 Donnerstag, 19. Mai 2005 3:02 15

Safe driving
14
WARNING
Travelling with the head restraints removed or improperly adjusted
increases the risk of severe injuries.•
Incorrectly adjusted head restraints could result in death in the event of
a collision or accident.
•
Incorrectly adjusted head restraints also increase the risk of injury
during sudden or unexpected driving or braking manoeuvres.
•
The head restraints must always be adjusted according to the occu-
pant's size.Note
The crash-active head restraints* could also be triggered if a vehicle occupant
applies a high level of pressure on the backrest (e.g. by “falling” back into the
seat when entering the vehicle) or if pressure is applied to a front seat head
restraint from the rear. This accidental activation is, however, not dangerous
as the crash-active head restraints will return to the original position immedi-
ately and are thus once again ready.
Correct adjustment of rear seat head restraints
Properly adjusted head restraints are an important part of the
occupant protection and can redu ce the risk of injuries in
most accident situations
Fig. 5 Head restraints in
correct positionFig. 6 Head restraint
position warning label
altea_ingles Seite 14 Donnerstag, 19. Mai 2005 3:02 15

Safe driving15
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
Rear outer seat head restraints
– The rear outer seat head restraints have 3 positions.
–Two positions for use ⇒ page 14, fig. 5 . In these positions, the
head restraints are used normally, protecting passengers along
with the rear seat belts.
– And one position for non-use.
– To fit the head restraints in posi tion for use, pull on the edges
with both hands in the direction of the arrow.
Centre rear head restraint
– The centre head restraint only has two positions, in-use (head
restraint up) and non-use (head restraint down).
WARNING
•
Under no circumstances should the rear passengers travel while the
head restraints or in the non-use position. See the warning label located on
the rear side fixed window. ⇒page 14, fig. 6
•
Do not swap the centre rear head restraint with either of the outer seat
rear head restraints.
•
Injury risk in case of an accident!Caution
Note the instructions on the adjustment of the head restraints. ⇒page 126
Examples of incorrect sitting positions
An incorrect sitting position can lead to severe injuries to
occupants.Seat belts can provide optimal protection only when the belt webs
are properly positioned. Incorrec t sitting positions substantially
reduce the protective function of se at belts and increase the risk of
injury due to incorrect belt web position. As the driver, you are
responsible for all vehicle occupants, especially children.
– Never permit anyone to assume an incorrect sitting position in the vehicle while travelling ⇒ .The following list contains examples of sitting positions which could be
dangerous for all occupants. The list is not complete, but we would like to
make you aware of this issue.
Therefore, whenever the vehicle is in motion:•
Never stand in the vehicle,
•
never stand on the seats,
•
never kneel on the seats,
•
never tilt your backrest far to the rear,
•
never lean against the dash panel,
•
never lie on the rear bench,
•
never sit on the front edge of a seat,
•
never sit sideways,
•
never lean out of a window,
•
never put your feet out of a window,
•
never put your feet on the dash panel,
•
never put your feet on the surface of a seat,
altea_ingles Seite 15 Donnerstag, 19. Mai 2005 3:02 15

Safe driving
16•
never travel in a footwell,
•
never travel on a seat without wearing the seat belt,
•
never carry any person in the luggage compartment.
WARNING
•
Every incorrect sitting position increases the risk of severe injuries.
•
Sitting in an incorrect position exposes the occupants to severe injuries
if airbags deploy, striking an occupant who has assumed an incorrect
sitting position.
•
Before the vehicle moves, assume the proper sitting position and main-
tain it throughout the trip. Before every trip, instruct your passengers to
assume the proper sitting position and to maintain it during the trip
⇒ page 10, “Proper sitting position for occupants”.
Pedal areaPedals
The operation and freedom of movement of all pedals must
never be impaired by objects or floor mats.– Ensure that you can always press the accelerator, brake and
clutch pedals unimpaired to the floor.
– Ensure that the pedals can return unimpaired to their initial posi- tions.Use only floor mats which leave the pedal area free and can be securely
fastened in the footwell. If a brake circuit fails, the brake pedal must be free to move further than
normal in order to bring the vehicle to a stop.
Wear suitable shoes
Always wear shoes which support your feet properly and give you a good feel
for the pedals.
WARNING
•
Restricting pedal operation can lead
to critical situations while driving.
•
Never place objects in the driver footwell. An object could move into the
pedal area and impair pedal operation. In the event of a sudden driving or
braking manoeuvre, you will not be ab le to operate the brake, clutch or
accelerator pedal. Risk of accident!
Floor mats on the driver side
Only floor mats may be used which can be securely fastened
in the footwell and do not impair operation of the pedals.– Ensure that the floor mats are securely fastened during the trip and do not obstruct the pedals ⇒.Only use floor mats which leave the pedals clear and which are secured to
prevent them from slipping. You can obta in suitable floor mats from a quali-
fied dealership.
WARNING
•
If the pedals are obstructed, you could cause an accident. Risk of
serious injuries.
•
Ensure that the floor mats are always securely attached.
altea_ingles Seite 16 Donnerstag, 19. Mai 2005 3:02 15

Safe driving17
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
•
Never lay or fit floor mats or other floor coverings over the original floor
mats. This would reduce the pedal area and could obstruct the pedals. Risk
of accident.
Stowing luggageLoading the luggage compartment
All luggage and other loose object s must be safely secured in
the luggage compartment.Unsecured objects which shift back and forth could impair the
driving safety or driving characteristics of the vehicle by shifting the
centre of gravity.
– Distribute the load evenly in the luggage compartment.
– Lay and stow heavy luggage as far forward as possible in the luggage compartment.
– Stow heavy luggage as low as possible in the luggage compart- ment.
– Secure heavy objects to the fitted fastening rings ⇒page 18 .
WARNING
•
Loose luggage and other objects in the luggage compartment can
cause serious injuries.
•
Always stow objects in the luggage compartment and secure them on
the fastening rings.
•
Use suitable specialist straps to secure heavy objects.
•
During sudden manoeuvres or accidents, loose objects can be flung
forward, injuring vehicle occupants. Th is increased risk of injury will be
further increased if a loose object is struck by an inflating airbag. If thi s
happens, objects can be transformed into “missiles”. Risk of fatal injury.
•
Please note that the centre of gravity may shift when transporting
heavy objects; this may affect the vehicle's handling and lead to an acci-
dent. Therefore, it is essential to adjust your speed and driving style
accordingly, to avoid accidents.
•
Never exceed the allowed axle loads or allowed maximum weight. If the
allowed axle load or the allowed total weight is exceeded, the driving char-
acteristics of the vehicle may change, leading to accidents, injuries and
damage to the vehicle.
•
Never leave your vehicle unattended, especially when the tailgate is
open. Children could climb into the luggage compartment closing the door
behind them; they will remain trapped without help and there is a mortal
risk.
•
Never allow children to play in or around the vehicle. Close and lock
both the tailgate and all the doors when you leave the vehicle. Before you
lock the vehicle, make sure that ther e are no adults or children in the
vehicle.
•
Never transport passengers in the luggage compartment. Every
passenger must be properly belted in ⇒ page 19.Note
•
Air circulation in the vehicle helps reduce fogging of the windows. Used
air escapes through ventilation slits in the side trim of the luggage compart-
ment. Ensure that the ventil ation slits are never covered.
WARNING (continued)
WARNING (continued)
altea_ingles Seite 17 Donnerstag, 19. Mai 2005 3:02 15

Safe driving
18•
Straps for securing the load to the fastening rings are commercially
available.
Fastening rings
There are four fastening rings in the luggage compartment
which can be used to secure luggage and other objects.– Always use suitable and undamaged straps to secure luggage and other objects to the fastening rings ⇒ in “Loading the
luggage compartment” on page 17.
– Pull up the fastening rings to attach the straps.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 “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 collision 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 object increases to about 90 kg. You can imagine the severity of the inju-
ries which might be sustaine d if this “projectile” strikes an occupant as it flies
through the passenger compartment. This increased risk of injury will be
further increased if a loose object is struck by an inflating airbag.
WARNING
•
If pieces of baggage or other objects are secured to the fastening rings
with inappropriate or damaged retaining cords, injuries could result in the
event of braking manoeuvres or accidents.
•
To prevent pieces of luggage or other objects from flying forward,
always use appropriate retaining cords which are secured to the fastening
rings.
•
Never secure a child seat on the fastening rings.WARNING (continued)
altea_ingles Seite 18 Donnerstag, 19. Mai 2005 3:02 15

Seat belts19
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
Seat belts IntroductionAlways fasten seat belts before driving!
Properly worn seat belts can save lives!In this chapter you will learn why seat belts are so important, how
they work and how to properly fasten, adjust and wear them.
– Read and observe all the information as well as the warnings in
this chapter.
WARNING
•
If the seat belts are worn incorrectly or not at all, the risk of severe inju-
ries increases.
•
Properly worn seat belts can reduce severe injuries in the event of
sudden braking manoeuvres or accidents. Therefore, you and your passen-
gers should always wear the seat belts properly as long as the vehicle is in
motion.
•
Pregnant women or persons with physical disabilities must also use
seat belts. Like all other occupants, these persons can also sustain severe
injuries if they are not wearing their seat belts properly.
Number of seatsYour vehicle has five passenger places, two individual front seats and three
places on the rear seat. Each seat is equipped with a three-point seat belt.
WARNING
•
Never transport more people than there are seats available in the
vehicle.
•
Every occupant in the vehicle must properly fasten and wear the seat
belt belonging to his or her seat. Chil dren must be protected with an appro-
priate child restraint system.
Seat belt warning lamp *

The warning lamp acts as a reminder to the driver to fasten
the seat belt.Before you drive:
– Always fasten your seat belt correctly before driving off.
– Instruct your passengers to fasten their seat belts properly before driving off.
– Protect your children with child restraint systems appropriate for the size and age of the children.
altea_ingles Seite 19 Donnerstag, 19. Mai 2005 3:02 15

Seat belts21
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
Why wear seat belts?Frontal collisions and the laws of physics
In the event of a frontal collision, a large amount of kinetic
energy must be released.
The action of the laws of physics in the case of a frontal collision may be
explained in the following way: As the vehicle moves ⇒fig. 7 the vehicle and
the passengers alike accumulate a stored energy called “kinetic energy”.
The amount of “kinetic energy” depends on the speed of the vehicle and the
weight of the vehicle an d passengers. The higher the speed and the greater
the weight, the more energy there is to be “released” in an accident.
The most significant factor, however, is the speed of the vehicle. If the speed
doubles from 25 km/h to 50 km/h, for example, the kinetic energy increases
by a factor of four.
Because the passengers in our example are not restrained by seat belts, the
entire amount of kinetic energy has to be absorbed at the point of impact
⇒ fig. 8 .
Even at speeds of 30 km/h to 50 km/h, the forces acting on bodies in a colli-
sion can easily exceed one tonne (1,000 kg). At greater speed these forces
are even higher.
Passengers not wearing seat belts are not “attached” to the vehicle. In a
frontal collision they will continue to move forward at the speed their vehicle
Fig. 7 Passengers of a
vehicle heading for a brick
wall. They are not wearing
seat belts.
Fig. 8 The vehicle with
unbelted occupants
strikes the wall.
altea_ingles Seite 21 Donnerstag, 19. Mai 2005 3:02 15

Seat belts23
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
Seat belts protect
Passengers not wearing seat belts risk severe injuries in the
event of an accident.Properly worn seat belts hold the vehicle occupants in the correct sitting posi-
tions and substantially reduce the kinetic energy in the event of an accident.
Seat belts also help to prevent uncont rolled movements which could lead to
severe injuries. In addition, properly worn seat belts reduce the danger of
being thrown from the car.
Passengers wearing their s eat belts correctly benefit greatly from the ability
of the belts to absorb kinetic energy. The front crumple zones and other
passive safety features (such as the airbag system) are also designed to
absorb the kinetic energy generated in a collision. Taken together, all these
features reduce the forces acting on the occupants and consequently the risk
of injury.
Our examples describe frontal collisions . Of course, properly worn seat belts
reduce substantially the risk of injury in all other types of accidents. This is why it is so important to fasten seat
belts before every trip, even when "just
driving around the corner".
Ensure that your passengers wear their seat belts as well. Accident statistics
have shown properly worn seat belts to be an effective means of substantially
reducing the risk of injury and improvi ng the chances of survival in a serious
accident. Further, properly worn seat belts improve the protection provided
by airbags in the event of an accident. For this reason, wearing a seat belt is
required by law in most countries.
Although your vehicle is equipped with airbags, the seat belts must be
fastened and worn. The front airbags, for example, are only triggered in some
frontal accidents. The front airbags will not be triggered during minor frontal
collisions, minor side collisions, rear collisions, rolls or accidents in which the
airbag trigger threshold in the control unit is not exceeded.
Therefore, you should always wear your seat belt and ensure that your
passengers have fastened their seat belts properly before you drive off!
Safety notes on using seat belts
If seat belts are used correctly, they can reduce the risk of
injury in an accident.– Always wear the seat belt as described in this booklet.
– Ensure that the seat belts can be fastened at all times and are not damaged.
WARNING
•
If the seat belts are worn incorrectly or not at all, the risk of severe inju-
ries increases. The optimal protection from seat belts can be achieved only
if you use them properly.
Fig. 11 Driver protected
by the properly worn seat
belt during a sudden
braking manoeuvre.
altea_ingles Seite 23 Donnerstag, 19. Mai 2005 3:02 15

Seat belts25
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
– Adjust the seat and head restraint correctly.
– To fasten the belt, take hold of the latch plate and pull it slowly
across your chest and lap.
– Insert the latch plate into the buckle for the appropriate seat and push it down until it is securely locked with an audible click
⇒page 24, fig. 12.
– Pull the belt to ensure that the latch plate is securely engaged in the buckle.The seat belts are equipped with an automatic retractor on the shoulder
strap. Full freedom of movement is permitted when the shoulder belt is pulled
slowly. However, during sudden braking, during travel in mountains or bends
and during acceleration, the automati c retractor on the shoulder belt is
locked.
The automatic belt retractors on the front seats are fitted with belt tension
devices ⇒page 28.
WARNING
•
An incorrectly worn seat belt web can cause severe injuries in the event
of an accident.
•
The seat belts offer best protection only when the backrests are in an
upright position and the seat belt s have been fastened properly.
•
Never put the latch plate in the buckle of another seat. If you do this, the
seat belt will not protect you properly and the risk of injury is increased.
•
If an occupant is incorrectly belted in, the belt cannot protect him or her
properly. An incorrectly positioned belt web can cause extremely severe
injuries.
•
Always engage the retractor lock when you are securing a child seat in
group 0, 0+ or 1 ⇒ page 46.
Seat belt position
Seat belts offer their maximum pr otection only when they are
properly positioned.
Fig. 13 Correct belt web
and head restraint posi-
tions, viewed from frontFig. 14 Correct belt web
and head restraint posi-
tions, viewed from side
altea_ingles Seite 25 Donnerstag, 19. Mai 2005 3:02 15