Get Seat belts Guide for Audi A5 4 Door First Generation (2007-2013)

Seat belts170

Seat belts

Why is it so important to use seat

belts?

Seat belts provide effective protection

The common belief that passengers can brace their

weight with their hands in a minor collision is false.

It is an established fact that seat belts provide good protection in

accidents. Therefore wearing a seat belt is required by law in most

countries.

Properly worn seat belts hold the occupants in the best position for

maximum protection ⇒ fig. 177. The seat belts are capable of

absorbing much of the kinetic energy arising in a collision. Also they

help to prevent uncontrolled movements which could lead to severe

injuries ⇒ page 171, “Important safety instructions for using seat

belts”.

If they wear the seat belts correctly, the passengers benefit greatly

from the ability of the belts to reduce the kinetic energy gradually.

The front crumple zones and other passive safety features (such as

the airbag system) are also designed to absorb the kinetic energy

generated in a collision. Taken together, all these features reduce

the forces acting on the occupants and consequently the risk of

injury.

Although these examples are based on a frontal collision, the phys-

ical principles involved are the same in other types of accidents and

for vehicles with an airbag system. This is why it is so important to

put on the seat belts before every trip – even when “just driving

around the corner”. Ensure that your passengers wear their seat

belts as well ⇒ .

Properly worn seat belts have been shown to be an effective means

of reducing the potential for injury and improving the chances of

survival in a serious accident ⇒ page 171, “Forces acting in a colli-

sion”.

For information on how children can travel safely in the car

⇒ page 185, “Points to remember if children are travelling in the

car”.

WARNING

• Seat belts must be put on before every trip – even when driving

in town. This also applies to the rear passengers (injury risk).

• During pregnancy, women should always ensure they wear a

seat belt. The best way to protect the unborn child is to protect the

mother ⇒ page 174, “Wearing and adjusting the seat belts during

pregnancy”.

Fig. 177 Driver

protected by the prop-

erly worn seat belt

during a sudden brake

manoeuvre

document_0900452a8179700c.book Seite 170 Donnerstag, 22. März 2007 10:19 10

Seat belts 171

Controls Safety Driving tips General maintenance Self-help Technical data

Important safety instructions for using seat

belts

There are a number of safety points concerning the seat

belts which you should remember. This will help to reduce

the risk of injury in an accident.

WARNING

• The seat belts can only provide maximum protection if the

seats are adjusted properly ⇒ page 70, “Seats and storage”.

• To ensure proper protection, it is important to wear the seat

belts in the correct position ⇒ page 173, “How to wear seat belts

properly”. Ensure that the seat belts are worn exactly as recom-

mended in this chapter. Belts which are not worn properly can

increase the risk of injury in accidents considerably.

• Do not allow the seat belt to become twisted or jammed, or to

rub on any sharp edges.

• Never allow two passengers (even children) to share the same

seat belt. It is especially dangerous to place a seat belt over a child

sitting on your lap.

• Do not wear the belt over hard or fragile objects (such as

glasses or pens, etc.) because this can cause injuries.

• Loose, bulky clothing (such as an overcoat over a jacket)

impairs the proper fit and function of the belts.

• The belts must be kept clean, otherwise the retractors may not

work properly ⇒ page 226, “Seat belts”.

• The slot in the seat belt buckle must not be blocked with paper

or other objects, as this can prevent the latch plate from engaging

properly.

• The latch plate of the belt must always be engaged in the

correct buckle for that seat, otherwise the belt will not be fully

effective.

• Check the condition of the seat belts at regular intervals. If you

notice that the belt webbing, fittings, retractor mechanism or

buckle of any of the belts is damaged, the belt must be replaced

by a qualified workshop.

• The seat belts must not be removed or modified in any way. Do

not attempt to repair a damaged belt yourself.

• Seat belts which have been worn in an accident and stretched

must be replaced by a qualified workshop. The belt anchorages

should also be checked.

Forces acting in a collision

The physical principles involved in a frontal

impact

Very large forces are generated during a collision; these

forces have to be absorbed.

WARNING (continued)

Fig. 178 Passengers of

a vehicle which is

headed for a brick wall.

They are not using seat

belts.

document_0900452a8179700c.book Seite 171 Donnerstag, 22. März 2007 10:19 10

Seat belts172

The physical principles involved in a frontal collision are relatively

simple:

Both the moving vehicle and the passengers possess energy, which

is known as “kinetic energy” ⇒ page 171, fig. 178. The amount of

“kinetic energy” depends on the speed of the vehicle and the weight

of the vehicle and passengers. The higher the speed and the greater

the weight, the more energy there is to be absorbed in an accident.

The most significant factor, however, is the speed of the vehicle. If

the speed doubles from 25 km/h to 50 km/h, for example, the kinetic

energy increases by a factor of four. Because these passengers are

not restrained by seat belts, the entire amount of kinetic energy has

to be absorbed at the point of impact ⇒ fig. 179. This would result

in serious or potentially fatal injury.

Even at urban speeds of 30 km/h to 50 km/h, the forces acting on the

occupants in a collision can reach the equivalent of 1 ton (1000 kg)

or more. At greater speed these forces are even higher. A rule of

thumb: if the speed doubles, the forces increase by a factor of four.

Passengers who do not wear seat belts are not “attached” to the

vehicle. In a frontal collision they will continue to move forward at

the speed their car was travelling just before the impact.

What happens to passengers not wearing

seat belts?

Passengers not wearing seat belts risk fatal injuries in the

event of an accident.

In a frontal collision, unbelted passengers will be thrown forwards

and make violent contact with the steering wheel, dashboard, wind-

screen, etc ⇒ fig. 180. Passengers not wearing their belts risk being

thrown out of the car, resulting in potentially fatal injuries.

The common belief that occupants can brace their weight with their

hands in a minor collision is false. Even at low speeds the forces

acting on the body in a collision are so great that it is not possible

to hold yourself in the seat.

Fig. 179 The vehicle

crashes against the

wall

Fig. 180 A driver not

wearing a seat belt can

be thrown forwards

Fig. 181 A rear

passenger not wearing

a seat belt can be

thrown forwards

document_0900452a8179700c.book Seite 172 Donnerstag, 22. März 2007 10:19 10

Seat belts 173

Controls Safety Driving tips General maintenance Self-help Technical data

It is also important for the rear passengers to wear seat belts, as

they could otherwise be thrown forwards violently in an accident.

Rear passengers who do not use seat belts endanger not only them-

selves but also the other occupants ⇒ page 172, fig. 181.

How to wear seat belts properly

Putting on the three-point seat belts

Always fasten your seat belts before driving off.

– Adjust the front seat and head restraint correctly before

putting on the seat belt ⇒ page 70, “Seats and storage”.

– To fasten the belt, take hold of the latch plate and pull it

slowly across your chest and lap ⇒ .

– Insert the latch plate into the buckle for the appropriate

seat and push it down until it is securely locked with an

audible click ⇒ fig. 183.

– Pull the belt to check that it is now securely fastened.

The three-point inertia reel belts are tensioned automatically. The

retractor system gives complete freedom of movement, as long as

the pull on the belt is slow. Hard braking locks the belt. The belt will

also lock when you accelerate, drive up or down a steep hill or in a

sharp curve.

WARNING

• Always make certain that the belt is positioned properly

⇒ fig. 182 – risk of injury ⇒ page 173, “Adjusting the seat belts”.

• The latch plate of the belt must always be engaged in the

correct buckle for that seat. Otherwise the belt will not be fully

effective and the danger of injury increases.

Adjusting the seat belts

Always position seat belts properly for maximum safety.

Fig. 182 Positioning of

head restraints and

seat belts

Fig. 183 Driver's seat:

Belt buckle and latch

plate

Fig. 184 Adjusting

shoulder and lap belt

document_0900452a8179700c.book Seite 173 Donnerstag, 22. März 2007 10:19 10

Seat belts174

The height of the front seat on your vehicle can be adjusted in order

to match the position of the seat belt to your height.

WARNING

• The diagonal part of the belt should never be positioned across

the neck, but roughly over the centre of the shoulder; it should fit

closely against the upper part of the body. The lap part of the belt

must be worn tightly across the hips, and not over the abdomen

⇒ page 173, fig. 184. Pull the belt tight if necessary to take up any

slack.

• Always make sure that belt is positioned properly. Incorrectly

worn seat belts can give rise to injuries even in a minor collision.

• Seat belts worn too loose can result in injuries because they

allow excessive forward movement in a crash; the occupant will

be brought to a sudden stop by the belt webbing.

Wearing and adjusting the seat belts during

pregnancy

To afford the best protection for the unborn child it is

important for the mother to wear the seat belt properly at

all times.

Women should always ensure they adjust the seat belt

correctly during pregnancy.

– Adjust the front seat and head restraint correctly before

putting on the seat belt ⇒ page 70, “Seats and storage”.

– To fasten the belt, take hold of the latch plate and pull it

slowly down across your chest. Wear the lap portion of

the seat belt as low as possible over the hips so that there

is no pressure on the stomach ⇒ fig. 185, ⇒ .

– Insert the latch plate into the buckle for the appropriate

seat and push it down until it is securely locked with an

audible click ⇒ page 173, fig. 183.

– Pull the belt to check that it is now securely fastened.

WARNING

During pregnancy, women should especially make sure to wear

the lap portion of the seat belt as low as possible across the hips

so that there is no pressure on the stomach.

Taking off the seat belts

The red button releases the belt from the buckle.

Fig. 185 Positioning

seat belts during preg-

nancy

Fig. 186 The latch

plate of the belt

springs out of the

buckle

document_0900452a8179700c.book Seite 174 Donnerstag, 22. März 2007 10:19 10

Seat belts 175

Controls Safety Driving tips General maintenance Self-help Technical data

– Press the red button in the seat belt buckle ⇒ page 174,

fig. 186. The latch plate will spring out of the buckle.

– Guide the belt back by hand so that it is taken up by the

retractor.

Belt tensioners

How the belt tensioners work

The seat belts for the driver and front passenger are

equipped with belt tensioners.

The seat belts on the front seats are tensioned automatically in

frontal, side and rear-end impacts above a certain degree of

severity. This helps to reduce the forward motion of the occupants.

In a less severe accident, or in the event of a roll-over, the belt

tensioners are not activated.

WARNING

• Any work on the tensioner system or removal and installation

of system components for other repairs must be performed by a

qualified workshop.

• The belt tensioners can only be activated once. If they have

been activated at any time, the system must be replaced.

Note

• Some smoke may be released when the belt tensioners are acti-

vated. This does not mean there is a fire in the vehicle.

• The relevant safety requirements must be observed when the

vehicle or components of the system are scrapped. Your authorised

Audi dealer is familiar with these regulations and will be pleased to

pass on the information to you.

document_0900452a8179700c.book Seite 175 Donnerstag, 22. März 2007 10:19 10

Seat belts for Your Audi A5 4 Door First Generation (2007-2013)

Related Topics

Popular Owner Manuals

Latest Owner Manuals