Side Airbags - Skoda 2011 Praktik Owner's Manual

WARNING (continued)
attached to the covers of the airbag modules or be located within the immediate
area.

No modifications of any kind may be made to parts of the airbag system. Any
work on the airbag system including installing and removing system compo-
nents because of other repair work (e.g. removing the steering wheel) must only
be carried out by a specialist garage.

Never carry out changes on the front bumper or on the body.

Never place any objects on the surface of the dash panel on the front
passenger side.

Side airbags

Description of side airbags
The side airbag increases protection of the passenger concerned in
the case of a side impact.
The side airbags are housed in the upholstery of the seat backrests of the front
seats and are marked with the lettering "AIRBAG"
The side airbag system in combination with the three-point seat belts, offers addi-
tional protection for the upper area of the body (chest, stomach and pelvis) of the
occupants of the vehicle in the event of severe side collisions 
safety information on the side airbag" on page 118.
Apart from their normal protective function, a further task of the seat belts is to also
hold the driver and front passenger in a correct seated position in the event of a side
collision so as to enable the side airbags to offer the maximum protection.
Using the system Safety
Fig. 113 Driver seat: Installation position
of airbag
 fig. 113 on the middle part.
in "Important
Driving Tips General Maintenance
You should therefore always fasten the seat belts, not only because this is required
by law, but also for safety reasons and for your own protection  page 109, "Why
seat belts?".
Function of the side airbags
Risk of injury to the upper part of the body is reduced by fully inflated
side airbags.
When the side airbags are deployed, the head airbag and the belt tensioner are also
automatically deployed on the relevant side .
In certain accident situations, the front, side and head airbag are simultaneously
deployed.
If an airbag is deployed, the airbag is filled with gas. The airbags inflate in fractions
of a second and at a high speed in order to be able to offer that additional protection
 fig.
in the event of an accident 114.
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.
Breakdown assistance
Airbag system
Fig. 114 Inflated side airbag
Praktik Technical data
117