weight SKODA OCTAVIA 2011 2.G / (1Z) Owner's Manual

Head airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Deactivating an airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Transporting children safely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
What you should know about transporting children! . 147
Child seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Attaching a child seat using the “ISOFIX” system . . . . 152
Attaching child seat using the “Top Tether” system . . 153
Driving Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Intelligent Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
General information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Electronic stability programme (ESP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Brake booster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Antilock brake system (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Uphill Start Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Electromechanical power steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Tyre pressure monitoring system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Diesel particle filter (diesel engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Driving and the Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
The first 1 500 kilometres and afterwards . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Catalytic converter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Driving in an economical and environmentally
conscious manner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Environmental compatibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Motoring abroad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Avoiding damage to your vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Driving through bodies of water on roads . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Towing a trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Technical requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
General Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Driving Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169 General Maintenance
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the
vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Care of the exterior of vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Care of the interior of vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Petrol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Biofuel Ethanol E85 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Diesel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Refuelling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Inspecting and Replenishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Engine compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Cooling system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Brake fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Windshield washer system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Wheels and Tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Accessories, changes and replacement of parts . 197
General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Breakdown assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Breakdown assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
First-aid box and Warning triangle (Octavia) . . . . . . . . . 198
First-aid box and warning triangle (Estate car) . . . . . . . 198
Fire extinguisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Vehicle tool kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Spare wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Changing a wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Tyre repair kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Jump-starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Towing the vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Fuses and light bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Electric fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214 Technical data
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Technical data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
General information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Used abbreviations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Performances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Identification details . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Fuel consumption according to the ECE standards and
EU guidelines
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Engine oil specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Engine 1.2 l/77 kW TSI - EU5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Engine 1.4 l/59 kW - EU4, EU5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Engine 1.4 l/90 kW TSI - EU5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Engine 1.6 l/75 kW - EU2, EU4, EU5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Engine 1.8 l/112 kW TSI - EU5, EU2 DDK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Engine 1.8 l/118 kW TSI - EU5, EU2 DDK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Engine 2.0 l/147 kW TSI - EU5, EU2 DDK . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Engine 1.6 l/77 kW TDI CR - EU5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Engine 1.9 l/77 kW TDI PD - EU4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Engine 2.0 l/81 kW TDI CR - EU4, EU5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Engine 2.0 l/103 kW TDI CR - EU4, EU5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Engine 2.0 l/125 kW TDI CR - EU5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Multi-purpose vehicles (AF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2394
Table of Contents

–
Distribute the items of luggage as evenly as possible.
– Place heavy objects as far forward as possible.
– Attach the items of luggage to the lashing eyes or the fixing net ⇒ page 67.
In the event of an accident, there is such a high kinetic energy which is produced
by small and light objects that they can cause severe injuries. The magnitude of
the kinetic energy depends on the speed at which the vehicle is travelling and on
the weight of the object. The speed at which the vehicle is travelling is in this case
the more significant factor.
Example: In the event of a frontal collision at a speed of 50 km/h, an unsecured
object with a weight of 4.5 kg produces an energy, which corresponds to 20 times
its own weight. This means that it results in a weight of approx. 90 kg. You can
imagine the injuries that can occur, if this
“bullet” is flying through the interior
compartment and hits an occupant. WARNING
● Store the objects in the luggage compartment and attach them to the
lashing eyes.
● Loose objects in the passenger compartment can be thrown forward dur-
ing a sudden manoeuvre or in case of an accident and can injure the occupants
or other oncoming traffic. This risk is still increased, if the objects which are
flying around are hit by a deployed airbag. In this case, the objects which are
thrown back can injure the occupants - hazard.
● Please note that the handling properties of your vehicle may be affected
when transporting heavy objects as a result of the displacement of the centre
of gravity. The speed and style of driving must be adjusted accordingly.
● The items carried in the luggage compartment should be stored in such a
way that no objects are able to slip forward if there are any sudden driving or
braking manoeuvres undertaken - risk of injury!
● Never drive with the boot lid fully opened or slightly ajar otherwise ex-
haust gases may get into the interior of the vehicle - risk of poisoning!
● On no account exceed the permissible axle loads and the permissible gross
weight of the vehicle - risk of accident!
● Never transport occupants in the luggage compartment! CAUTION
Make sure that transported objects with sharp edges do not damage the follow-
ing:
● heating elements in the rear window,
● elements of the aerial integrated in the rear window (Octavia),
● elements of the aerial integrated in the rear side windows (Estate car). Note
Tyre pressure must be adjusted to the load ⇒ page 192
.
Vehicles of category N1 On vehicles of the category N1, which are not fitted with a protective grille, a lash-
ing set which complies with the standard EN

12195 (1 - 4) must be used for fasten-
ing the load. 
Lashing eyes Fig. 52 Luggage compartment: Lashing eyes Octavia/Estate car
Eyes are located on the sides of the luggage compartment for lashing the goods
to be loaded.
You can also attach a floor fixing net to these eyes for holding small objects.
The floor fixing net and the installation instruction are located in a container un-
der the floor covering of the luggage compartment behind the spare wheel. £ 67
Seats and Stowage Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data

WARNING
● The load to be transported must be fixed in place in such a way that it can-
not move during the journey and when braking.
● If the items of luggage or objects are attached to the lashing eyes with un-
suitable or damaged lashing straps, injuries can occur in the event of braking
manoeuvres or accidents. In order to prevent the items of luggage being
thrown forward, always use suitable lashing straps which are firmly attached
to the lashing eyes. Note
The upper front lashing eyes are located underneath the folding rear seat back-
rest ⇒
 fig. 52. 
Fixing nets - Net programme Octavia Fig. 53 Fixing net: Horizontal pocket/vertical pocket
Fixing examples of the fixing net as a horizontal pocket
⇒ fig. 53

- left and a verti-
cal pocket ⇒ fig. 53 - right.
The fixing net is stowed in a storage compartment behind the spare wheel under
the floor covering of the luggage compartment. WARNING
● The whole strength of the net makes it possible to load the pocket with
objects of up to 1.5 kg in weight. Heavy objects are not secured sufficiently -
risk of injury and net damage!
● The load to be transported must be fixed in place in such a way that it can-
not move during the journey and when braking. CAUTION
Do not place any objects with sharp edges in the nets - risk of net damage. 
Fixing nets - Net programme Estate car Fig. 54 Fixing net: Vertical pocket/division of the luggage compartment
Fixing examples of the fixing net as a horizontal pocket
⇒ fig. 54 - left and as a
division of the luggage compartment with the aid of the net ⇒ fig. 54 - right.
The fixing net is stowed in a storage compartment behind the spare wheel under
the floor covering of the luggage compartment. WARNING
● The whole strength of the net makes it possible to load the pocket with
objects of up to 1.5 kg in weight. Heavy objects are not secured sufficiently -
risk of injury and net damage!
● The load to be transported must be fixed in place in such a way that it can-
not move during the journey and when braking. CAUTION
Do not place any objects with sharp edges in the nets - risk of net damage. 68
Seats and Stowage

Folding double hooks (Octavia)
Fig. 55 Luggage compartment: Folding
double hooks
Folding double hooks for attaching small items of luggage, such as bags etc. are
provided on one or both sides of the luggage compartment depending on the
equipment installed in the vehicle ⇒
 fig. 55. CAUTION
An item of luggage weighing up to 5 kg can be attached to each side of the double
hook. 
Folding hooks (Estate car) Fig. 56 Luggage compartment: folding
hooks
Folding hooks for attaching small items of luggage, such as bags etc., are provided
on both sides of the luggage compartment ⇒ fig. 56 . CAUTION
An item of luggage weighing up to 7.5 kg can be attached to the hook. Fixing floor covering of the luggage compartment
Fig. 57 Luggage compartment: Fixing of the floor covering Octavia/Estate car
There is a loop (Octavia) or there are hooks (Estate car) located on the floor cover-
ing of the luggage compartment. You can fix the raised floor cover with a hook to
the luggage compartment cover (Octavia) ⇒ fig. 57 - left, as if one needs to reach
the spare wheel or to the frame of the boot lid (Estate car) ⇒
 fig. 57 - right. 
Luggage net (Octavia) Fig. 58 Luggage compartment: Luggage
net
The luggage net is designed for the transportation of lighter objects. WARNING
● In the storage net you must only stow objects (up to a total weight of 1.5
kg). Heavy objects are not secured sufficiently - risk of injury!
● No objects with sharp edges should be stored in the luggage net, because
they can damage the luggage net. 69
Seats and Stowage Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data

Install
–
Position the luggage net partition housing into the mounts in the rear seat
backrests.
– Push the luggage net partition housing in the opposite direction of arrow 1as far as the stop.
– Fold the rear seats back into its original position. WARNING
Pay attention that the rear seat backrest is correctly interlocked. It is only
then that the three-point seat belt for the middle seat can reliably fulfil its
function. 
The roof rack Description CAUTION
● Only use roof racks approved by ŠKODA.
● If you use other roof rack systems or if the roof bars are not properly fitted,
then any damage which may result to your car is not covered by the warranty
agreements. It is therefore essential to pay attention to the fitting instructions
supplied with the roof luggage rack system.
● On models fitted with a power sliding/tilting roof, ensure that the opened slid-
ing/tilting roof does not strike any items of luggage transported on the roof.
● Ensure that the opened boot lid does not collide with the roof load. For the sake of the environment
The increased aerodynamic drag results in a higher fuel consumption. Note
If a vehicle is not factory-equipped with a roof rack, it can be purchased from the
ŠKODA Original Accessories Lashing points (Octavia)
Fig. 66 Attachment points for base roof
carrier
Perform the assembly and the disassembly according to the attached instructions. Note
● If you have any questions, please contact a specialist garage.
● The figure is not valid for an estate car. 
Roof load Distribute the weight evenly over the roof luggage rack system. The maximum
permissible roof load (including roof rack system) of
75 kg and the maximum per-
missible total weight of the vehicle should not be exceeded.
You cannot make full use of the permissible roof load if you use a roof luggage
rack system with a lower load carrying capacity. The load transported on the roof
luggage rack system must not exceed the weight limit which is stated in the fit-
ting instructions. WARNING
● The items which you transport on the roof bar system must be reliably at-
tached - risk of accident!
● You must on no account exceed the permissible roof load, the permissible
axle loads and the permissible gross weight of your vehicle - risk of accident!
● Please note that the handling properties of your vehicle change when you
transport heavy or bulky items on the roof bar system as a result of the dis-
placement of the centre of gravity and the increased wind attack area - risk of
accident! You must absolutely adapt your style of driving and the speed of the
vehicle to the specific circumstances. 73
Seats and Stowage Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data

Storage compartment on the dash panel
Fig. 78 Dash panel: Storage compart-
ment
– Press in the middle of the storage compartment ⇒ fig. 78 - the lid folds open
Certain model versions are equipped without lid for the storage compartment. WARNING
● The storage compartment is not a substitute for the ashtray and must also
not be used for such purposes - risk of fire!
● The storage compartment must always be closed when driving for safety
reasons.
● Do not put any highly inflammable objects or objects which are sensitive to
heat (e.g. lighters, sprays, spectacles, carbonated drinks) in the storage com-
partment. 
Stowage compartment in front centre console Fig. 79 Front centre console: Storage
compartment–
Press on the bottom part of the storage compartment in the area A ⇒ 
fig. 79 -
the lid opens. WARNING
The storage compartment is not a substitute for the ashtray and must also
not be used for such purposes - risk of fire! 
Storage net on the front centre console Fig. 80 Front centre console: Storage
net
The storage net in the front centre console ⇒ fig. 80 is designed for the transport
of smaller objects. WARNING
● In the storage net you must only stow objects (up to a total weight of 0.5
kg). Heavy objects are not secured sufficiently - risk of injury!
● No objects with sharp edges should be stored in the luggage net, because
they can damage the luggage net. 79
Seats and Stowage Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data

Stowage compartment for spectacles
Fig. 81 Detail of the headliner: Stowage
compartment for spectacles
– Press on the lid of the storage compartment, the storage compartment opens
downwards ⇒ fig. 81 . CAUTION
● The compartment must only be opened when removing or inserting the spec-
tacles and otherwise must be kept closed.
● Do not put any heat-sensitive objects in the storage compartment - they may
be damaged. 
Storage compartment in the front doors Fig. 82 Storage compartment in the
front doors
A bottle holder is located in the area B of the storage compartment for the front
doors. WARNING
Use the area A ⇒ fig. 82 of the storage compartment only for storing objects
which do not project so that the effectiveness of the side airbag is not im-
paired. 
Stowage compartment below front passenger seat Fig. 83 Front passenger seat: Storage
compartment
– Tilt the lock to open the flap and pull out the flap ⇒ fig. 83 .
– Tilt the lock to close the flap and press flap close. CAUTION
The storage compartment is foreseen for storing small objects of up to 1.5 kg. in
weight. 
Front seat armrest with storage compartment Fig. 84 Armrest: Storage compartment/cooling of storage compartment
£80
Seats and Stowage

WARNING
● After placing skis into the through-loading bag, you must secure the bag
with the securing strap B .
● The strap A must hold the skis tight.
● Make sure that the strap A holds the skis in front of the binding (see also
imprint on the removable through-loading bag). Note
● The through-loading bag is foreseen for four pairs of skis. The total weight of
the skis which are transported must not exceed 17 kg.
● You must put the skis and the sticks in the removable through-loading bag
with the tips facing the rear.
● If there are several pairs of skis in the removable through-loading bag, ensure
that the bindings are positioned at the same height.
● Carefully fold the empty (dry) through-loading bag together, place it in the lug-
gage compartment and secure it to prevent it slipping. The removable through-
loading bag must never be folded together or stowed when moist. 
Side compartment Fig. 89 Luggage compartment: Side
compartment
– You can open the compartment by turning the locks in the direction of arrow.
The CD changer is housed in this compartment. Stowage compartment behind the rear seats (Estate car)
Fig. 90 Removing the storage compart-
ment
Removing
– First remove the foldable luggage compartment cover ⇒  page 70.
– Grasp the housing with both hands and remove it by pulling in direction of ar-
row ⇒ fig. 90 .
Install
– Push the housing up to the stop into the catch.
– Re-insert the foldable luggage compartment cover. WARNING
Only place small and light objects up to a total weight of 3 kg into the storage
compartment. In the event of a vehicle collision heavy objects could be thrown
out of the compartment - risk of injuries! For this reason, the front part of the
luggage compartment cover must always cover over the storage compart-
ment. 
Clothes hooks The clothes hooks are located on the middle pillar and on the handle of the head-
liner above each of the rear doors.
£ 83
Seats and Stowage Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data

WARNING
● The parking aid is not a substitute for the driver paying proper attention
and it is always the driver's responsibility to take care when reversing the ve-
hicle or carrying out similar manoeuvres.
● You should therefore satisfy yourself, before reversing, that there is no
small obstacle, such as a rock, thin post, trailer drawbar etc., in front or behind
your vehicle. Such an obstacle might not be within the range detected by the
sensors.
● Under certain circumstances, surfaces of certain objects and types of
clothing cannot reflect the signal of the parking aid. Thus, these objects or
people who wear such clothing are not recognised by the sensors of the park-
ing aid. Note
● Only the front parking aid operates if you are towing a trailer (applies only to
models which feature a factory-fitted towing device).
● If a warning signal sounds for about 3 seconds after activating the system and
there is no obstacle close to your car, this indicates a system fault. The fault is
confirmed additionally when the symbol  flashes in the button ⇒ fig. 103 - left.
Have the fault rectified by a specialist workshop.
● The sensors must be kept clean and free of ice to enable the parking aid to
operate properly.
● If the parking aid is activated and the selector lever of the automatic gearbox
is in the position P , warning signal indicates interruption (vehicle can no longer
move). 
Cruise control system (CCS) Introduction The cruise control system (CCS) maintains a constant speed, more than 30 km/h
(20 mph), once it has been set, without you having to depress the accelerator
pedal. This is only possible within the range which is permitted by the power out-
put and braking power of the engine. The cruise control system makes it possible
- particularly on long journeys - for you to rest your
“accelerator foot”. WARNING
● For safety reasons, the cruise control system must not be used in dense
traffic or on unfavourable road surfaces (such as icy roads, slippery roads,
loose gravel) - risk of accident!
● In order to prevent unintentional use of the cruise control system, always
switch off the system after use. Note
● Models fitted with a manual gearbox: Always depress the clutch pedal if you
switch on the cruise control system when the gearbox is in Neutral! Otherwise the
engine can rev up unintentionally.
● The cruise control system is not able to maintain a constant speed when driv-
ing on steep downhill sections. The weight of the vehicle increases the speed at
which it travels. One should shift down in good time to a lower gear or slow the
vehicle down by applying the foot brake.
● It is not possible on vehicles fitted with an automatic gearbox to switch on the
cruise control system if the selector lever is in the position P, N or R. 
Storing a speed Fig. 104 Operating lever: Rocker button
and switch of the cruise control system
The cruise control system is operated by means of the switch A
⇒  fig. 104 and
the rocker button B in the left lever of the multi-functional switch.
– Press the switch A into the position ON.
– After the desired speed has been reached, press the rocker button B into the
SET position. £104
Starting-off and Driving

Seat belts
Why seat belts? Fig. 117 Driver wearing seat belt
It is a proven fact that seat belts offer good protection in accidents ⇒ fig. 117. Thus
wearing a seat belt is a legal requirement in most countries.
Seat belts which have been correctly fastened and adjusted hold the occupants of
the car in the correct seated position ⇒ fig. 117. The seat belts reduce the kinetic
energy (energy of motion) to a considerable extent. They also prevent uncontrol-
led 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 ab-
sorbed by the belts. The structure of the front end of the vehicle and other pas-
sive 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 in-
jury.
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 135.
It is important that you pay attention to safety measures, particularly when trans-
porting children in the vehicle ⇒
 page 147, Transporting children safely. 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 137, How are seat
belts correctly fastened?

.
● 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. 
The physical principle of a frontal collision Fig. 118 The driver is catapulted forward if not wearing a belt/The rear seat occupant is cata-
pulted forward if not wearing a belt
The physical principle of a frontal accident can be explained quite simply:
Motion energy, so-called kinetic energy, is produced as soon as the vehicle is mov-
ing, both for the vehicle and its occupants. The magnitude of this kinetic energy
depends essentially on the speed at which the vehicle is travelling and on the
weight of the vehicle including the occupants. The greater the speed and weight
increase, the greater the amount of energy which has to be absorbed in the event
of an accident. £ 135
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