Air VOLKSWAGEN UP! 2016 User Guide

Passengers not wearing seat belts are not connected to the vehicle. In the event of a frontal
collision they will continue to move forwards at the same speed at which the vehicle was travelling
before impact, until something stops them. Because the passengers in our example are not
restrained by seat belts, the entire amount of kinetic energy will only be released at the point of
impact against the wall ⇒ Fig. 45.
Even at speeds of approximately 30 km/h (18 mphyfWRDSSUR[LPDWHO\bNPKbPSK\f, the forces
acting on bodies in a collision can easily exceed one tonne (1,000 kgyf7KHVHIRUFHVDUHHYHQ
greater at higher speeds.
This example applies not only to frontal collisions, but to all accidents and collisions.
What happens to vehicle occupants who have not fastened their seat
belts
Fig. 46 An unbelted driver is thrown forwards
Fig. 47 The unbelted rear passenger is thrown forwards, hitting the belted driver
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒
Introduction
Many people believe that they can brace their weight with their hands in a minor collision. This is
not true.
Even at low speeds, the forces acting on the body in a collision are so great that occupants cannot
brace themselves with their arms and hands. In a frontal collision, unbelted vehicle occupants are
thrown forwards and will make unchecked contact with parts of the vehicle interior, e.g. the steering
wheel, dash panel, or windscreen ⇒ Fig. 46.
The airbag system is not a substitute for the seat belts. When triggered, the airbags only provide
additional protection. Airbags are not triggered in all kinds of accidents. Even if the vehicle is
equipped with an airbag system, all vehicle occupants, including the driver, must fasten their seat
belt and wear it correctly while the vehicle is in motion. This reduces the risk of severe or fatal
injuries in the event of an accident \f

Check the condition of all seat belts regularly.
Keep the seat belts clean.
Never let any foreign bodies or fluids get on to the seat belt, the latch plate or into the slot
for the seat belt buckle.
Do not trap or damage the seat belt and latch plate, for example when closing the door.
Never remove, modify or repair the seat belt or any part of the belt fixture system.
Always fasten the seat belt correctly before every journey and keep it fastened while the
vehicle is in motion.
Fig. 48 Driver restrained by a properly positioned seat belt during a sudden braking manoeuvre
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒
Introduction
Correctly fastened seat belts can make a major difference. When fastened properly, seat belts hold
the vehicle occupants in the correct sitting positions and considerably reduce the kinetic energy in
the event of an accident. Seat belts also help to prevent uncontrolled movements that could lead to
severe injuries. In addition, wearing seat belts properly reduces the risk of being thrown from the
vehicle ⇒ Fig. 48.
Passengers wearing seat belts correctly benefit greatly from the ability of the belts to reduce the
kinetic energy. The front crumple zones and other passive safety features (such as the airbag
systemyfDUHDOVRGHVLJQHGWRUHGXFHNLQHWLFHQHUJ\7KHDPRXQWRIHQHUJ\JHQHUDWHGZLOOWKXV
decrease, thereby reducing the risk of injury.
The examples describe frontal collisions. Of course, properly worn seat belts substantially reduce
the risk of injury in all other types of accidents. This is why seat belts must be fastened before every
trip \f

Fig. 52 Correct seat belt routing during pregnancy
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒
Introduction
Seat belts only provide an optimum level of protection during an accident when they are routed
correctly. Correct seat belt routing reduces the risk of severe or fatal injuries. Correct seat belt
routing also holds the vehicle occupants in position so that an inflating airbag can offer the
maximum level of protection. Therefore you must always fasten your seat belt and ensure that the
seat belt routing is correct.
Assuming an incorrect sitting position can cause severe or fatal injuries ⇒ Adjusting the seat
position.
Correct seat belt routing
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The belt tensioners are activated by sensors during severe frontal, side and rear collisions. They
tighten the seat belts against the direction in which they are pulled. A loose seat belt is retracted,
which can reduce the forward movement or the movement of the vehicle occupants in the direction
of the impact. The belt tensioner works together with the airbag system. If the side airbags are not
activated, the belt tensioner will not be activated if the vehicle rolls over.
A fine dust may be produced when the airbags are triggered. This is quite normal and does not
mean that there is a fire in the vehicle.
Belt tension limiter
The belt tension limiter reduces the pressure exerted by the seat belt on the body during an
accident.
All safety requirements must be observed when the vehicle or components of the system are
scrapped. Qualified workshops are familiar with these requirements ⇒ Service and disposal of belt
tensioners.
Service and disposal of belt tensioners
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒
Introduction
Seat belts may become damaged during any work on the belt tensioners or while removing or
refitting any vehicle parts in conjunction with any other repair work. This damage will not always be
noticeable. The consequence may be that the belt tensioners could function incorrectly, or not
function at all, in the event of an accident.
Regulations must be observed to ensure that the effectiveness of the belt tensioner is not reduced
and that removed parts do not cause any injuries or environmental pollution. Qualified workshops
are familiar with these requirements.
The airbag modules and belt tensioners may contain perchlorate. Please comply with
legislation regarding disposal.
Airbag system
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the followingsubjects:
⇒ Types of front passenger front airbag system
⇒ Indicator lamps
⇒ Description and function of the airbags
⇒ Front airbags
⇒ Switching the front passenger front airbag on and off manually using the key-operated switch
⇒ Side airbags
The vehicle is equipped with a front airbag for the driver and front passenger. The front airbags can
provide front seat occupants with additional chest and head protection if the seat, seat belts, head
restraints and, in the case of the driver, steering wheel are adjusted and used correctly. Airbags are
meant only for additional protection. The airbags are not a substitute for seat belts. Seat belts must
always be worn, even when the front seats are equipped with front airbags.
Additional information and warnings:
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Types of front passenger front airbag system
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒
Introduction
Never rely solely on the airbag system for your protection.
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Volkswagen offers 2 different front airbag systems for front passengers:
AB
Features of the front passenger front
airbag that can only be switched off
by a qualified workshop.
Features of the front passenger front
airbag that can be switched off
manually using the key-operated
switch ⇒ Switching the front passenger front
airbag on and off manually using the key-
operated switch.
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When an airbag is triggered, it is inflated by a gas generator. This causes the airbag covers to
break, and the airbags inflate forcefully to cover their deployment zones within milliseconds. Once a
vehicle occupant wearing a seat belt starts to sink into the inflated airbag, the gas inside the airbag
starts to escape to cushion the occupant and slow down their movement. This can reduce the risk
of severe and fatal injuries. A triggered airbag will not always prevent other injuries such as
swelling, bruising and grazing. Deployment of a triggered airbag can also result in frictional heat.
Airbags provide no protection for the arms or lower body.
The most important factors for triggering the airbag are the type of accident, the angle of impact,
the vehicle speed and the type of object with which the vehicle collides. Therefore, visible damage
to the vehicle does not always mean that the airbag should have been triggered.
The triggering of the airbag system depends on the vehicle deceleration rate caused by the collision
and registered by the electronic control unit. If this rate is below the reference value programmed
into the control unit, the airbags will not be triggered, even though the vehicle may be badly
damaged as a result of the collision. Vehicle damage, repair costs or even the lack of vehicle
damage in an accident do not necessarily give an indication of whether an airbag should inflate or
not. It is not possible to define a range of vehicle speeds and reference values, since the
circumstances will vary considerably between one collision and another. It is therefore impossible to
cover every possible kind and angle of impact that would trigger the airbags. Important factors in
the triggering of the airbag include the nature (hard or softyfRIWKHREMHFWWKDWWKHYHKLFOHKLWVWKH
angle of impact, and the vehicle speed.
Airbags only serve as a supplement to the three-point seat belt in some accident situations when
the vehicle braking is sufficient to trigger the airbags. Airbags can only be triggered once and only
in certain situations. The seat belts are always there to provide protection in situations in which the
airbags are not triggered or have already been triggered. For example, if the vehicle collides with a
further vehicle following the initial collision, or is hit by another vehicle.
The airbag system is part of the vehicle's overall passive safety concept. The airbag system can
only work effectively when the occupants are wearing their seat belts correctly and have assumed a
proper sitting position ⇒ Adjusting the seat position.
Components of the vehicle safety concept
The following vehicle safety equipment makes up the vehicle's safety concept to reduce the risk of
severe and fatal injuries. Some of this equipment may not be fitted in your particular vehicle. It may
not be available at all in some countries.
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Fig. 54 Location and deployment zone of the driver front airbag
Fig. 55 Location and deployment zone of the front passenger front airbag
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒
Introduction
In conjunction with the seat belts, the front airbag system gives the front occupants additional
protection for the head and chest in the event of a severe frontal collision. Always keep as far away
from the front airbag as possible ⇒ Adjusting the seat position. This allows the front airbags to
inflate fully when triggered, thus providing maximum protection.
The front airbag for the driver is located in the steering wheel ⇒ Fig. 54 and the front airbag for the
front passenger is located in the dash panel ⇒ Fig. 55. The airbag locations are identified by the
text AIRBAG.
The areas inside the red lines ⇒ Fig. 54 and ⇒ Fig. 55 are covered by the front airbags when
triggered (deployment zoneyf)RUWKLVUHDVRQ\RXPXVWQHYHUOHDYHRUDWWDFKDQ\REMHFWVLQWKHVH
areas ⇒. Any factory-fitted accessories will not be struck if the driver and front passenger front
airbags are deployed.
The airbag covers fold out of the steering wheel ⇒ Fig. 54 or dash panel ⇒ Fig. 55 when the driver
and front passenger front airbags trigger. The airbag covers remain connected to the steering
wheel or the dash panel.
Switching the front passenger front airbag on and off manually using
the key-operated switch
Once triggered, the airbag inflates at high speed.
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Fig. 56 On the front passenger side: key switch for disabling and enabling the front airbag on the
front passenger side
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒
Introduction
The front passenger front airbag must be switched off when securing a rear-facing child seat to
the front passenger seat.
Disabling the front passenger front airbag
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The side airbags are located in the outer seat backrest cushions of the driver seat and front
passenger seat ⇒ Fig. 57B. The locations of the airbags are marked with stickers with the word
AIRBAG. The areas marked in red ⇒ Fig. 57 indicate the side airbag deployment zones.
During a side collision, the side airbag will be deployed on the vehicle's side of impact, reducing the
risk of injury to the areas of the occupants' heads and bodies facing the impact.
Child seats (accessoriesyf
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the followingsubjects:
⇒ General information on transporting children in the vehicle
⇒ Various securing systems
⇒ Using a child seat on the front passenger seat
⇒ Using a child seat on the rear seats
⇒ Securing child seats with a seat belt
⇒ Securing child seats using lower anchoring points (ISOFIX, LATCHyf
⇒ Securing child seats with the top tether
It is imperative that you read all of the information concerning the airbag system before transporting
babies or children in a child seat on the front passenger seat.
This information is very important for the safety of the driver and the safety of all passengers,
babies and small children in particular.
Volkswagen recommends using child seats from Volkswagen's range of accessories. These child
seats were developed and approved for use in Volkswagen vehicles. Child seats for the various
different securing systems are available from a Volkswagen dealership.
Additional information and warnings:
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