Driver seat position SKODA OCTAVIA 2005 1.G / (1U) User Guide

Seats and Stowage
88
Removing and installi ng a head restraint
– Pull the head restraint up out of the backrest of the seat as far as the stop (on the rear head restraints fold forward the seat
backrest).
– Press the locking button in the direction of arrow ⇒ fig. 64 and
pull the head restraint out.
– To re-insert the head restraint, push it down into the backrest of the seat far enough until you hear the locking button
engage.
The head restraints of the front seats can be adjusted for angle and
height. The outer head restraints at the rear can only be adjusted for
height. The middle rear head restraint* is adjustable in two positions.
The head restraints must be adjusted to match the size of the seat occu-
pant. Correctly adjusted head restraints together with the seat belts offer
effective protection for the occupants ⇒page 179.
Active head restraints*
The front seats can be equipped with active head restraints, which protect
the occupants from injury to the cervical vertebra in the event of a rear
impact
WARNING
•The head restraints must be correctly adjusted in order to offer
effective protection for the occupants in the event of an accident.
•Do not drive under any circumstance with removed head
restraints - risk of injury!
•If the rear seats are occupied, the rear head restraint must not
be in the lower position.
Heating the front seats*
The seating and leaning surfaces of the front seats can be heated
when the ignition is switched on.
Front seats
– Heating on the driver's and front pasenger's seat can be switched on and regulated by turning the control dial ⇒fig. 65.
– The system is switched off by turning the control dial to the home position “0”.
Caution
•You should not kneel on the seats or otherwise apply pressure at
specific points in order to avoid damaging the heating elements of the seat
heaters.
•Do not clean the seats moist ⇒page 239.
Fig. 65 Dash panel:
Control dial for heating
the front seats
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Starting-off and Driving
138
Starting-off and Driving
Setting steering wheel positionYou can set the height and the forward/back position of the
steering wheel to the desired position.
– Adjust the driver seat ⇒page 82.
– Pull the lever below the steering column ⇒fig. 127 down ⇒.
– Set the steering wheel to the desired position (concerning height and forward/back position).
– Then push the lever up against the steering column until it locks into place.
WARNING
•You must not adjust the steering wheel when the vehicle is
moving!
•The driver must maintain a distance of at least 25 cm to the
steering wheel ⇒fig. 128 . Not maintaining this minimum distance
will mean that the airbag system will not be able to properly protect
you - hazard!
•For safety reasons the lever must always be firmly pushed up to
avoid the steering wheel altering its position unintentionally when
driving - risk of accident!
•If you adjust the steering wheel further towards the head, you
will reduce the protection offered by the driver airbag in the event
of an accident. Check that the steering wheel is aligned to the
chest.
•When driving, hold the steering wheel with both hands firmly on
the outer edge in the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock position. Never hold
the steering wheel firmly in the 12 o'clock position or in another
Fig. 127 Adjustable
steering wheel: Lever
below steering column
Fig. 128 Safe distance
to steering wheel
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Passive Safety177
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
Safety
Passive Safety
Basic information
Driving the safe way
Passive safety measures reduce the risk of injury in acci-
dent situations.
In this section you will find important information, tips and notes on the
subject of passive safety in your vehicle. We have combined everything
here which you should be familiar with, for example, regarding seat belts,
airbags, child seats and safety of children. It is therefore important, in
particular, to comply with the notes and warnings in this section for your
own interest and in the interest of those travelling with you.
WARNING
•This chapter contains important information on how to use the
vehicle for the driver and his occupants. You will find further infor-
mation on safety, which concerns you and those travelling with
you, in the following chapters of this Owner's Manual.
•The complete on-board literature should always be in the
vehicle. This applies in particular, if you rent out or sell the
vehicle.
Safety equipment
The safety equipment is part of the occupant protection
and it can reduce the risk of injuries in accident situations.
“Do not put at risk” your safety and the safety of those travelling with you
. In the event of an accident, the safety equipment can reduce the risk of
injuries. The following list contains part of the safety equipment in your
vehicle:
•Three-point seat belts for all the seats,
•belt force limiter for front and outer rear seats*,
•belt tensioner for front and outer rear seats*,
•seat belt height adjuster for front seats,
•front airbag for the driver and the front seat passenger,*
•side airbags*,
•head airbags*,
•anchoring points for child seat using the “ISOFIX” system,
•head restraint adjustable for height,
•adjustable steering column.
The specified safety equipment works together, in order to optimally
protect you and those travelling with you in accident situations. The safety
equipment does not protect you or the people travelling with you, if you or
your occupants adopt an incorrect seated position or the equipment is not
correctly adjusted or used.
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Passive Safety
178
For this reason you will be provided with information on why this equip-
ment is very important, how it protects you and the occupants, what
should be observed when using the equipment and how you and the
people travelling with you can make full use of the existing safety equip-
ment. This Owner's Manual contains important warning notes, which you
and those travelling with you should pay attention to in order to reduce a
risk of injury.
Safety concerns everybody!
Before setting off
The driver is always fully responsible for his occupants
and for the operating safety of the vehicle.
For your own safety and the safety of the people travelling with you,
please pay attention to the following points before setting off:
•Ensure that the lighting and the turn signal system are functioning
properly.
•Inspect the tyre inflation pressure.
•Ensure that all the windows offer a good visibility to the outside.
•Safely attach the items of luggage ⇒page 92, “Loading the luggage
compartment”.
•Ensure that no objects can obstruct the pedal.
•Adjust the mirror, the front seat and the head restraint to match your
body size.
•Point out to your occupants that the head restraints must be adjusted
to match their body size.
•Protect the children in suitable child seats with correctly fastened seat
belts ⇒page 202, “Transporting children safely”.
•Adopt the correct seated position ⇒page 179, “Correct seated posi-
tion”. Also inform your occupants to adopt the correct seated position.
•Fasten the seat belt correctly. Also inform your occupants to properly
fasten the seat belts ⇒page 186, “How are seat belts correctly
fastened?”.
What influences the driving safety?
The driving safety is primarily determined by the style of
driving and the personal behaviour of all the occupants.
The driver is fully responsible for himself and his occupants. If your driving
safety is effected, you place yourself and the oncoming traffic at risk.
Please refer to the following guidelines.
•Do not get distracted from concentrating on the traffic situation, e.g. by
your occupants or mobile phone calls.
•Never drive when your driving ability is impaired, e.g. through medica-
tion, alcohol, drugs.
•Keep to the traffic regulations and the permissible speed limit.
•Adjust the driving speed at all times to the road condition as well as to
the traffic and weather conditions.
•Take regular breaks on long journeys - at the latest every two hours.
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Passive Safety179
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
Correct seated position
Correct seated position for the driver
Correct seated position for the driver is important for safe
and relaxed driving.
For your own safety and to reduce the risk of injury in the event of an acci-
dent, we recommend the following setting:
•Adjust the steering wheel so that the distance between the steering
wheel and your chest is at least 25 cm ⇒fig. 152 .
•Position the driver seat in the forward/back direction so that you are
able to press the pedals with your legs at a slight angle .
•Adjust the backrest so that you are able to reach the highest point of
the steering wheel with your arms at a slight angle.
•Adjust the head restraint so that the top edge of the head restraint is
at the same level as the upper part of your head ⇒fig. 153 .
•Fasten the seat belt correctly ⇒page 186, “How are seat belts correctly
fastened?”.
Manual driver seat adjustment ⇒page 83, “Adjusting the front seats”.
Electrical driver seat adjustment ⇒page 84, “Adjusting front seats electri-
cally*”.
Fig. 152 The correct
distance of the driver
from the steering wheel
Fig. 153 The correct
head restraint adjust-
ment for the driver
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Passive Safety
180
WARNING
•The front seats and the head restraints must always be adjusted
to match the body size of the seat occupant as well as the seat belts
must always be correctly fastened in order to provide an optimal
protection for you and your occupants.
•The driver must maintain a distan ce of at least 25 cm to the
steering wheel ⇒page 179, fig. 152 . Not maintaining this minimum
distance will mean that the airbag system will not be able to prop-
erly protect you - hazard!
•When driving, hold the steering wheel with both hands firmly on
the outer edge in the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock position. Never hold
the steering wheel firmly in the 12 o'clock position or in another
way (e.g. in the middle of the steering wheel or at the inner steering
wheel edge). In such cases, injuries to the arms, the hands and the
head can occur when the driver airbag is deployed.
•The backrests must not be angled too far back when driving
otherwise this will affect proper operation of the seat belts and of
the airbag system - risk of injury!
•Ensure that there are no objects in the footwell as any objects
may get behind the pedals during a driving or braking manoeuvre.
You would then no longer be able to operate the clutch, to brake or
accelerate.
Correct seated position for the front passenger
The front passenger must maintain a distance of at least
25 cm from the dash panel so that the airbag offers the
greatest possible safety when an airbag is deployed.
For the safety of the front passenger and to reduce the risk of injury in the
event of an accident, we recommend the following setting:
•Adjust the front passenger seat as far as possible to the rear.
•Adjust the head restraint so that the top edge of the head restraint is
at the same level as the upper part of your head ⇒page 179, fig. 153 .
•Fasten the seat belt correctly ⇒page 186, “How are seat belts correctly
fastened?”.
In exceptional cases the front passenger airbag can be deactivated
⇒ page 199, “Deactivating an airbag”.
Manual front passenger adjustment ⇒page 83, “Adjusting the front seats”.
Electrical front passenger seat adjustment ⇒page 84, “Adjusting front
seats electrically*”.
WARNING
•The front seats and the head restraints must always be adjusted
to match the body size of the seat occupant as well as the seat belts
must always be correctly fastened in order to provide an optimal
protection for you and your occupants.
•The front passenger must maintain a distance of at least 25 cm
to the dash panel. Not maintaining this minimum distance will
mean that the airbag system will not be able to properly protect you
- hazard!
•Always keep your feet in the footwell when the car is being
driven - never place your feet on the instrument panel, out of the
window or on the surfaces of the seats. You will be exposed to
increased risk of injury if it becomes necessary to apply the brake
or in the event of an accident. If an airbag is deployed, you may
suffer fatal injuries when adopting an incorrect seated position!
•The backrests must not be angled too far back when driving
otherwise this will affect proper operation of the seat belts and of
the airbag system - risk of injury!
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Passive Safety181
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
Correct seated position for th e occupants on the rear
seats
Occupants on the rear seats must sit upright, keep the feet
in the footwell and must have their seat belts correctly
fastened.
To reduce the risk of injury in the event of a sudden braking manoeuvre or
an accident, the occupants on the rear seats must observe the following:
•Adjust the head restraints so that the top edge of the head restraints
are at the same level as the upper part of your head ⇒page 179, fig. 153 .
•Fasten the seat belt correctly ⇒page 186, “How are seat belts correctly
fastened?”.
•If you are transporting ⇒page 202, “Transporting children safely” chil-
dren in the vehicle, please use a suitable child restraint system.
WARNING
•The head restraints must always be adjusted to match the body
size, in order to offer an optimal protection for you and your occu-
pants.
•Always keep your feet in the footwell when the car is being
driven - never put your feet out of the window or on the surfaces of
the seats. You will be exposed to increased risk of injury if it
becomes necessary to apply the brake or in the event of an acci-
dent. If an airbag is deployed, you may suffer fatal injuries when
adopting an incorrect seated position!
•If the occupants on the rear seats are not sitting upright, the risk
of injury is increased due to in correct routing of the seat belt.
Examples of an incorrect seated position
An incorrect seated position can lead to severe injuries or
death for the occupants.
Seat belts offer their optimum protection only if the webbing of the seat
belts is properly routed. Incorrect seated positions considerably reduce
the protective functions of the seat belts and therefore increase the risk of
injury due to an incorrect routing of the seat belt. The driver is fully respon-
sible for himself and the occupants, in particular for the children. Do not
permit an occupant to adopt an incorrect seated position when the car is
moving.
The following list contains the examples of seated positions which are
dangerous for the occupants. This list is not complete, however we would
like you to get interested in this subject.
Therefore, while the car is moving never:
•stand up in the vehicle,
•stand up on the seats,
•kneel onto the seats,
•tilt the backrest fully to the back,
•lean against the dash panel,
•lie on the rear seats,
•only sit on the front area of the seat,
•sit to the side,
•lean out of the window,
•put the feet out of the window,
•put the feet on the dash panel,
•put the feet on the seat upholstery,
•occupy the footwell,
•have the seat belt not fastened,
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Seat belts183
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
Seat belts
Why seat belts?
It is a proven fact that seat belts offer good protection in accidents
⇒fig. 154 . Thus wearing a seat belt is a legal requirement in most coun-
tries.
Seat belts which have been correctly fastened and adjusted hold the
occupants of the car in the correct seated position ⇒fig. 154 . The belts
reduce the kinetic energy (energy of motion) to a considerable extent.
They also prevent uncontrolled movements which, in turn, may well result
in severe injuries.
The occupants of a vehicle who have fastened and correctly adjusted their
seat belt, profit to a major extent from the fact that the kinetic energy is
optimally absorbed by the belts. The structure of the front end of the
vehicle and other passive safety measures, such as the airbag system, also contribute to reducing the kinetic energy. The energy produced is
thus absorbed and there is less risk of injury.
Accident statistics prove that seat belts which are fastened and properly
adjusted reduce the risk of an injury and enhance the chance of survival
in a major accident
⇒page 184.
It is important that you pay attention to safety measures, particularly when
transporting children in the vehicle ⇒page 202, “What you should know
about transporting children!”.
WARNING
•Fasten your seat belt each time before setting off, also when
driving in town! This also applies to the people seated at the rear -
risk of injury!
•Expectant women must also always wear a seat belt. This is the
only way of ensuring optimal protection for the unborn child
⇒ page 186, “Fastening a three-point seat belt”.
•It is important for the belt webbing to be properly routed if the
seat belts are to offer the maximum protection. You can see a
description of how safety belts should be fitted properly on the
next pages.
Note
Please comply with any differing legal requirements when using the seat
belts.
Fig. 154 Driver
wearing seat belt
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Seat belts
188
– Press the red button in the belt lock ⇒fig. 160. The spring
force causes the tongue of the lock to jump out.
– Guide the belt back with your hand to enable the inertia reel to wind up the belt webbing more easily.
A plastic knob in the belt webbing holds the belt tongue in a position which
is easy to get hold of.
Three-point safety belt for the middle rear seat
Your car is equipped as standard with the three-point seat belt in the
middle rear seat. It is used in the same way as the three-point seat belts
on the left and right (at front and rear).
WARNING
The three-point safety belt for the rear middle seat can only fulfil its
function reliably when the backrests are correctly locked into posi-
tion ⇒page 90.
Belt tensioners
Safety for the driver and passengers wearing their seat belts, is
enhanced by the belt tensioners fitted to the inertia reels of the front and
rear side three-point seat belts, in addition to the protection afforded by
the airbag system. The three-point seat belts are automatically tensioned in the event of a
frontal collision of a certain severity. The belt tensioners can also be
deployed if the seat belts are not fastened.
The belt tensioner is deployed in the event of a frontal collision of major
severity. A powder charge is ignited in the inertia reels during deployment.
The belt webbing is pulled into the inertia reels by a mechanical system
and the belt is tensioned.
Belt tensioners are not activated in the event of minor frontal collisions,
side and rear-end collisions, in the case of a rollover and also not in acci-
dents in which no major forces are produced from the front.
WARNING
•The service life of seat belts and belt tensioners is 15 years from
the date of manufacture of the vehicle. It is then necessary to have
the seat belts replaced by a specialist garage.
•Any work on the system includi ng removal and installation of
system components because of other repair work, must only be
carried out by a specialist garage.
•The protective function of the system is only adequate for a
single accident. If the belt tensioners have been deployed, it is then
necessary to replace the entire system.
•The Owner's Manual must also be handed over to the new
owner if the vehicle is sold.
Note
•Smoke is generated when the belt tensioners are deployed. This is not
an indication of a fire in the vehicle.
•It is essential to pay attention to relevant safety regulations if the
vehicle or individual parts of the system are scrapped. Specialist garages
are familiar with these regulations and will be able to provide you with
detailed information in this respect.
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Airbag system
190
Airbag system
Description of the airbag system
General information on the airbag system
The front airbag system is complementary to the three-point seat belts
and offers additional protection for the head and chest area of the driver
and passenger in the event of a frontal collision.
In the case of a violent side crash, the side* and head* airbags reduce the
risk of injuries to the occupants on the part of the body facing the side of
the accident ⇒.
The airbag system is only functional after the ignition has been switched
on.
The operational readiness of the airbag system is monitored electroni-
cally. The airbag warning light comes on for a few seconds each time the
ignition is switched on.
The airbag system (according to vehicle equipment) essentially
consists of:
•an electronic control unit,
•front airbag for the driver and the front seat passenger*,
•side airbags*,
•head airbags*,
•an airbag warning light in the instrument cluster,
•a front passenger airbag switch* ⇒page 200,
•an indicator light showing a switched-off front passenger airbag* in the
middle of the dash panel ⇒page 200. A fault in the airbag system exists if:
•the airbag indicator light does not light up when the ignition is switched
on,
•the warning light does not go out after about 4 seconds after the igni-
tion is switched on,
•the airbag indicator light goes out and comes on again after the ignition
is switched on,
•the airbag indicator light comes on or flickers when driving,
•an airbag indicator light showing a switched-off front passenger
airbag* in the middle of the dash panel flashes.
WARNING
•To enable the occupants of a car to be protected with the
greatest possible effect when the airbag is deployed, the front
seats must be ⇒page 179, “Correct seated position” correctly
adjusted to match the body size of the occupant.
•If you do not fasten the seat belts when driving, lean too far
forward or adopt an incorrect seated position, you are exposing
yourself to increased risk of injury in the event of an accident.
•Have the airbag system checked immediately by a specialist
garage if a fault exists. Otherwise, there is a risk of the airbag not
being activated in the event of an accident.
•No modifications of any kind may be made to parts of the airbag
system.
•It is prohibited to manipulate individual parts of the airbag
system as this might result in the airbag being deployed.
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