Get Safety First -> Air Bag system Guide for Seat Ibiza SUV Third Generation (2003-2008)

Seat belts 17

Safety First Operating instructions Tips and Maintenance Technical Data

Adjusting the height of the seat belt*

This device enables the position of the seat belts to be

adjusted for the height of the wearer at the shoulder area.

The seat belt height adjustment on the front seats can be used to

ensure that the web of the belt is fitted correctly over the shoulder.

– Press the retractor reel at the top and keep pressed.

– Move the retractor reel up or down to adjust the seat belt.

– Check that the retractor is secure by giving the belt a sharp tug.

Fig. 6 Location of the belt

height adjuster

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Seat belts18

Why wear seat belts?

Frontal collisions and the laws of physics

In the event of a frontal collision, a large amount of kinetic

energy is generated.

It is easy to explain how the laws of physics work in the case of a head-on

collision: When a vehicle starts moving ⇒ fig. 7 there is a certain amount of

energy known as “kinetic energy”, both in the vehicle and in the occupants.

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 “released” 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 the passengers in our example are not restrained by seat belts, the

entire amount of kinetic energy has to be absorbed at the point of impact

⇒ fig. 8.

Even at speeds of 30 km/h to 50 km/h, the forces acting on bodies in a colli-

sion can easily exceed one tonne (1,000 kg). At greater speed these forces

are even higher.

Passengers not wearing seat belts are not “attached” to the vehicle. In a

frontal collision they will continue to move forward at the speed their vehicle

Fig. 7 Vehicle about to hit

a wall: the occupants are

not wearing seatbelts

Fig. 8 The vehicle hits

the wall: the occupants

are not wearing seatbelts

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Seat belts 19

Safety First Operating instructions Tips and Maintenance Technical Data

was travelling just before the impact. This example applies not only to frontal

accidents, but also to all accidents and collisions.

The danger of not using the seat belt

Many people believe that the occupants can protect them-

selves with their hands in a minor collision, this is false.

Even at low speeds the forces acting on the body in a collision are so great

that it is not possible to brace oneself with one's hands. In a frontal collision,

unbelted passengers are thrown forward and will make violent contact with

the steering wheel, dashboard, windscreen or whatever else is in the way

⇒ fig. 9.

The airbag system is not a substitute for the seat belts. When deployed,

airbags provide only additional protection. All occupants (including the

driver) must be wearing seat belts properly during the trip. This will reduce

the risk of severe injuries in the event of an accident – regardless of whether

an airbag is fitted for the seat.

Note that airbags can be triggered only once. To achieve the best possible

protection, the seat belt must always be worn properly so that you will be

protected in accidents in which no airbag is deployed.

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

could otherwise be thrown forward violently in an accident. Rear passengers

who do not use seat belts endanger not only themselves but also the front

occupants ⇒ fig. 10.

Fig. 9 A driver not

wearing a seat belt is

thrown forward violently.

Fig. 10 The unbelted rear

passenger is thrown

forward violently, hitting

the driver wearing a seat

belt.

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Seat belts20

Seat belts protect

Passengers not wearing seat belts risk severe injuries in the

event of an accident.

Properly worn seat belts hold the vehicle occupants in the correct sitting posi-

tions and substantially 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, properly worn seat belts reduce the danger of

being thrown from the car.

Passengers wearing their seat belts correctly benefit greatly from the ability

of the belts to absorb kinetic energy. 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.

Our examples describe frontal collisions. Of course, properly worn seat belts

reduce substantially the risk of injury in all other types of accidents. This is

why it is so important to fasten seat belts before every trip, even when "just

driving around the corner".

Ensure that your passengers wear their seat belts as well. Accident statistics

have shown properly worn seat belts to be an effective means of substantially

reducing the risk of injury and improving the chances of survival in a serious

accident. Furthermore, properly worn seat belts improve the protection

provided by airbags in the event of an accident. For this reason, wearing a

seat belt is required by law in most countries.

Although your vehicle is equipped with airbags, the seat belts must be

fastened and worn. The front airbags, for example, are only triggered in some

frontal accidents. The front airbags will not be triggered during minor frontal

collisions, minor side collisions, rear collisions, rolls or accidents in which the

airbag trigger threshold in the control unit is not exceeded.

Therefore, you should always wear your seat belt and ensure that your

passengers have fastened their seat belts properly before you drive off!

Safety notes on using seat belts

If seat belts are used correctly, they can reduce the risk of

injury in an accident.

– Always wear the seat belt as described in this booklet.

– Ensure that the seat belts can be fastened at all times and are not

damaged.

WARNING

• If the seat belts are worn incorrectly or not at all, the risk of severe inju-

ries increases. The optimal protection from seat belts can be achieved only

if you use them properly.

Fig. 11 Driver wearing

the seat belt correctly: is

restrained by the belt

when braking sharply

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Seat belts 21

Safety First Operating instructions Tips and Maintenance Technical Data

• Fasten your seat belt before every trip - even when driving in town. That

applies also to your front and rear passengers – danger of injury!

• The seat belt cannot offer its full protection if the belt web is not posi-

tioned correctly.

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

• Keep both feet in the foot-well in front of your seat as long as the

vehicle is in motion.

• Never unbuckle a seat belt while the vehicle is in motion. Risk of fatal

injury.

• The belt webbing must never be twisted while it is being worn.

• The belt webbing should never lie on hard or fragile objects (such as

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

• Do not allow the seat belt to be damaged or jammed, or to rub on any

sharp edges.

• Never wear the seat belt under the arm or in any other incorrect posi-

tion.

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

proper fit and function of the belts, reducing their capacity to protect.

• 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 securely.

• Never use seat belt clips, retaining rings or similar instruments to alter

the position of the belt webbing.

• Frayed or torn seat belts or damage to the connections, belt retractors

or parts of the buckle could cause severe injuries in the event of an acci-

dent. Therefore, you must check the condition of all seat belts at regular

intervals.

• Seat belts that have been worn in an accident and stretched must be

replaced by a qualified workshop. Renewal 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 belt yourself. The seat belts

must not be removed or modified in any way.

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

properly.

WARNING (continued) WARNING (continued)

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Seat belts22

Seat belts

Seat belt adjustment

The seat belts for the front and rear occupants are locked into

position by a latch.

The seat belt cannot offer its full protection if the belt web is not

positioned correctly.

– Adjust the seat and head restraint correctly.

– 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. 12.

– Pull the belt to ensure that the latch plate is securely engaged in

the buckle.

The seat belts are equipped with an automatic retractor on the shoulder

strap. Full freedom of movement is permitted when the shoulder belt is pulled

slowly. However, during sudden braking, during travel in mountains or bends

and during acceleration, the automatic retractor on the shoulder belt is

locked.

The automatic belt retractors on the front seats are fitted with belt tension

devices ⇒ page 25.

WARNING

• An incorrectly worn seat belt web can cause severe injuries in the event

of an accident.

• The seat belts offer best protection only when the backrests are in an

upright position and the seat belts have been fastened properly.

• Never put the latch plate in the buckle of another seat. If you do this, the

seat belt will not protect you properly and the risk of injury is increased.

• If an occupant is incorrectly belted in, the belt cannot protect him or her

properly. An incorrectly positioned belt web can cause extremely severe

injuries.

Fig. 12 Belt buckle and

latch plate of seat belt

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Seat belts 23

Safety First Operating instructions Tips and Maintenance Technical Data

Seat belt position

Seat belts offer their maximum protection only when they are

properly positioned.

WARNING

• An incorrectly worn seat belt web can cause severe injuries in the event

of an accident.

• The shoulder belt must be positioned around the middle of the

shoulder. The seat belt must lie flat and snugly on the torso ⇒ fig. 13.

• The lap part of the seat belt must lie across the pelvis, never across the

stomach. The seat belt must lie flat and snugly on the pelvis ⇒ fig. 14. Pull

the belt tight if necessary to take up any slack.

• Read and observe the warnings ⇒ page 20.

Pregnant women must also fasten their seat belts properly

The best protection for the unborn child is for the mother to

wear the seat belt properly at all times during the pregnancy.

Fig. 13 Correct belt web

and head restraint posi-

tions, viewed from front

Fig. 14 Correct belt web

and head restraint posi-

tions, viewed from side

Fig. 15 Positioning seat

belts during pregnancy

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Seat belts24

The seat belt provides maximum protection only when the belt web

is properly positioned ⇒ page 23.

– Adjust the front seat and head restraint correctly.

– Holding the latch plate, pull the belt evenly across your chest and

as low as possible over the pelvis ⇒ page 23, fig. 15.

– Insert the latch plate into the buckle for the corresponding seat

and push it down until it is securely locked with an audible click

⇒ .

– Pull the belt to ensure that the latch plate is securely engaged in

the buckle.

WARNING

• An incorrectly worn seat belt web can cause severe injuries in the event

of an accident.

• For pregnant women, the lap part of the seat belt must lie as low as

possible over the pelvis, never across the stomach, and always lie flat so

that no pressure is exerted on the abdomen.

• Read and observe the warnings ⇒ page 20.

Seat belt release

The seat belt must not be unfastened until the vehicle has

come to a standstill.

– Press the red button on the belt buckle ⇒ fig. 16. The latch plate

is released and springs out ⇒ .

– Guide the belt back by hand so that it rolls up easily and the trim

is not damaged.

WARNING

Never unbuckle a seat belt while the vehicle is in motion. If you do, you

increase the risk of sustaining severe or fatal injuries.

Fig. 16 Removing latch

plate from buckle

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Safety First -> Air Bag system for Your Seat Ibiza SUV Third Generation (2003-2008)

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