flat tire SKODA OCTAVIA 2005 1.G / (1U) Owner's Manual

Airbag system
196
In certain accident situations both the front airbags as well as the head
and side airbags may be deployed together.
If an airbag is deployed, the airbag is filled with propellant gas. The
airbags inflate in fractions of a second and at a high speed in order to be
able to offer that additional protection in the event of an accident.
A grey white, non harmful gas is released when airbag is inflated. This is
perfectly normal and is not an indication of a fire in the vehicle.
The load of the occupants is cushioned when plunging into the fully
inflated airbag and the risk of injury to the entire upper body (chest,
stomach and pelvis) is reduced on the side facing the door.
Important safety information on the side airbag
Correct use of the airbag system considerably reduces the
risk of injury!
WARNING
•It is essential to always switch off ⇒page 199, “Deactivating an
airbag” the front passenger airbag when attaching a child safety
seat on the front passenger seat where the child is seated with its
back facing in direction of travel (in some countries also when the
child is facing the direction of travel). If this is not done, there is a
risk of the child suffering severe or even fatal injuries if the front
passenger airbag is deployed. In certain countries national legal
provisions also require that the side or head passenger airbags be
deactivated. When transporting a child on the front passenger seat,
please comply with the appropriate national regulations regarding
the use of child safety seats.
•Your head should never be positioned in the deployment area of
the side airbag. You might suffer severe injuries in the event of an accident. This applies in particular to children who are transported
without using a suitable child safety seat
⇒page 205, “Child safety
and side airbags*”.
•If children adopt an incorrect seated position when travelling,
they may be exposed to an increased risk of injury in the event of
an accident. This can result in serious injuries ⇒page 202, “What
you should know about transporting children!”.
•There must not be any further persons, animals as well as
objects positioned between the occupants and the deployment
area of the airbag. There must also be no accessories such as cup
holders, attached to the doors to enable the side airbags to activate
properly.
•The airbag control unit operates together with the pressure
sensors, which are attached in the front doors. For this reason no
adjustments must be carried out at the doors as well as at the door
panels (for example additional installation of loudspeakers).
Resulting damages can have a negative affect on the operation of
the airbag system. All work on the front doors and their panels
must only be carried out by a specialist garage.
•In the event of a side collision, the side airbags will not function
properly, if the sensors cannot measure the increasing air pressure
inside the doors, because the air can escape through large, non-
sealed openings in the door panel.
−Never drive with removed inner door panels.
− Never drive, if parts of the inner door panel have been
removed and the remaining openings have not been properly
sealed.
− Never drive, if the loudspeakers in the doors have been
removed, only if the loudspeaker openings have been properly
sealed.
WARNING (continued)
s24s.book Page 196 Thursday, November 24, 2005 12:27 PM

Airbag system
198
the event of a side collision so as to enable the head airbags to offer the
maximum protection.
You should therefore always fasten ⇒page 183, “Why seat belts?” the
seat belts, not only because this is required by law, but also for safety
reasons and for your own protection.
Together with other elements (such as cross bars in the seats, stable
vehicle structure) the head airbags are the consequent further develop-
ment of occupant protection in the case of side collisions.
Function of the head airbags
The risk of injury to the head and neck area is reduced in
the event of a side collision by fully inflated head airbags.
In the case of a side collision the head airbag is deployed together with
the relevant side airbag on the side of the car on which the accident occurs
⇒ fig. 168 . If the head airbag is deployed, the airbag is filled with propellant gas and
extends over the entire area of the side window including the door pillars
⇒
fig. 168 .
The protection offered by the head airbags is thus available simultane-
ously both to the front occupants of the car seated on the side on which
the accident occurs, as well as to the rear occupants. Any impact of the
head against parts of the interior or objects outside of the car, is cushioned
by the inflated head airbag. The reduction in any impact to the head and
the resultant minimizing of any movements of the head additionally reduce
the risk of injuries to the neck area. The head airbag also offers additional
protection in the case of an offset impact by covering the front door pillar.
In certain accident situations both the front airbags as well as the side and
head airbags may be deployed together.
The airbags inflate in fractions of a second and at a high speed in order to
be able to offer that additional protection in the event of an accident. A
grey white, non harmful gas is released when airbag is inflated. This is
perfectly normal and is not an indication of a fire in the vehicle.
Important safety informat ion on the head airbag
Correct use of the airbag system considerably reduces the
risk of injury!
WARNING
•It is essential to always switch off ⇒page 199, “Deactivating an
airbag” the front passenger airbag when attaching a child safety
seat on the front passenger seat where the child is seated with its
back facing in direction of travel (in some countries also when the
child is facing the direction of travel). If this is not done, there is a
risk of the child suffering severe or even fatal injuries if the front
passenger airbag is deployed. In certain countries national legal Fig. 168 Inflated head
airbag
s24s.book Page 198 Thursday, November 24, 2005 12:27 PM