Ensure that the seat belts can be fastened
–
at all times and are not damaged.
WARNING
If seat belts are worn incorrectly or not at
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all, the risk of severe injuries increases. The
optimal protection from seat belts can be
achieved only if you use them properly.
Fasten your seat belt before every trip -
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even when driving in town. Other vehicle
occupants must also wear the seat belts at
all times, otherwise they run the risk of be-
ing injured.
The seat belt cannot offer its full protec-
●
tion if the seat belt is not positioned cor-
rectly.
Never allow two passengers (even chil-
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dren) to share the same seat belt.
Always keep both feet in the footwell in
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front of your seat as long as the vehicle is in
motion.
Never unbuckle a seat belt while the ve-
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hicle is in motion. Risk of fatal injury.
The seat belt must never be twisted while
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it is being worn.
The seat belt should never lie on hard or
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fragile objects (such as glasses or pens,
etc.) because this can cause injuries.
Do not allow the seat belt to be damaged
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or jammed, or to rub on any sharp edges.
Never wear the seat belt under the arm or
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in any other incorrect position.
Seat belts
Bulky and unfastened clothing (such as
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an overcoat over a sweater) impairs the
proper fit and function of the seat belts, re-
ducing their capacity to protect.
The slot in the seat belt buckle must not
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be blocked with paper or other objects, as
this can prevent the latch plate from en-
gaging securely.
Never use seat belt clips, fastening rings
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or similar items to alter the position of the
belt webbing.
Frayed or torn seat belts or damage to
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the connections, belt retractors or parts of
the buckle could cause severe injuries in
the event of an accident. Therefore, you
must check the condition of all seat belts
at regular intervals.
Seat belts which have been worn in an
●
accident and have been stretched must be
replaced by a specialised workshop. Re-
newal may be necessary even if there is no
apparent damage. The belt anchorage
should also be checked.
Do not attempt to repair a damaged seat
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belt yourself. The seat belts must not be re-
moved or modified in any way.
The belts must be kept clean, otherwise
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the retractors may not work properly.
Head-on collisions and the laws of
physics
A driver not wearing a seat belt is
Fig. 90
thrown forward violently.
The unbelted passenger in the rear
Fig. 91
seat is thrown forward violently, hitting the driv-
er who is wearing a seat belt.
The effects of the laws of physics in the case
of a head-on collision are easy to explain: the
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