Skoda Rapid Owner's Manual page 57

Seat belts protect
ä
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 52.
Correctly fastened and adjusted seat belts can make a big difference. Correctly
fastened and adjusted seat belts keep occupants in the proper seated position
and significantly reduce the kinetic energy in the event of an accident. Seat belts
also help prevent uncontrolled movements that may lead to serious injuries. In ad-
dition, correctly fastened and adjusted seats belts reduce the risk of being cata-
⇒ f ig.
pulted out of the car 35.
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 generated energy thus decreases and reduces the risk of inju-
ries.
The examples describe frontal collisions. Of course, correctly fastened and adjus-
ted seat belts also reduce the risk of injuries in all other types of accidents. There-
fore, safety belts must be fastened before each journey, even if "only driving
around the corner". Ensure that all passengers are wearing their seat belt proper-
ly.
Vehicle overview Before driving
Accident statistics have shown that the proper wearing of seat belts significantly
reduces the risk of injuries and increases the chance of surviving a serious acci-
dent. Correctly fastened and adjusted seat belts also increase the optimal protec-
tive effect of deploying airbags in the event of an accident. For this reason, in
most countries, the use of seat belts is required by law.
Although the vehicle is equipped with airbags, seat belts must be worn. The front
airbags, for example, deploy only in some frontal collisions. The front airbags do
not deploy at a low speed frontal collisions, slight side collisions, rear-end colli-
sions, rollover, and in accidents in which the airbag deployment threshold was not
exceeded in the control unit.
Therefore, always wear your seat belt and make sure that all passengers are
wearing their seat belt correctly before driving!
Fig. 35 Driver wearing a seat
belt who is caught by the cor- Using the seat belts
rectly fastened and adjusted
seat belt in a sudden braking
ä
manoeuvre.
Checklist
Using the seat belt ⇒
¥
Regularly check the condition of all seat belts.
¥
Keep the seat belts clean.
¥
Always keep foreign bodies and liquids away from the webbing, the lock
tongue and the slot in the belt buckle.
¥
Avoid pinching or damaging the seat belt and lock tongue, e.g., when clos-
ing the door.
¥
Never remove, modify or repair a seat belt and its anchorage elements
yourself.
¥
Always correctly fasten and adjust the seat belt before each journey leave
it applied during the ride.
Twisted seat belt
If it is difficult to pull the seat belt out from the belt guide, the seat belt may have
become twisted within the side trim by returning it too quickly when releasing the
belt:
● Hold the seat belt at the lock tongue and slowly and gently pull out the belt
completely.
● Remove the twisting in the seat belt and return the belt slowly by hand.
When driving
Sitting properly and safely
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 52.
:
Maintenance, cleaning, servic-
ing
55
Ð
£
Do-it-yourself