Introduction
Fig. 3 Driver wearing seat belt
Seat belts that are fastened correctly offer good protection in the event of an accident. They reduce the risk of an injury and increase the chance of survival in the event of a major accident.
Correctly fastened seat belts hold occupants of the car in the correct seated position » Fig. 3.
The seat belts reduce the kinetic energy (energy of motion) to a considerable extent. They also prevent uncontrolled movements which, in turn, may well result in severe injuries.
The occupants of a vehicle who have fastened and correctly adjusted their seat belt benefit greatly from the fact that the kinetic energy is absorbed by the belts as much as possible.
The structure of the front end of the vehicle and other passive safety measures, such as the airbag system, also contribute to reducing the kinetic energy in the best possible way. The energy produced is thus absorbed and there is less risk of injury.
Particular safety aspects must be observed when transporting children in the vehicle » page 19, Transporting children safely.
WARNING
WARNING
Information on the correct routing of the belt
WARNING
Information on dealing with the safety belts
WARNING
Information on the proper use of the safety belts
WARNING
Information on the care and maintenance of the safety belts
The anchorage points for the belts should also be checked.
Note
The national legal requirements must be observed when using seat belts.
The physical principle of a frontal collision
Fig. 4 Driver without a fastened seat belt/rear seat passenger without a
fastened seat belt
As soon as the vehicle is moving, so-called kinetic energy (the energy of motion) is produced both in terms of the car as well as in terms of the occupants.
The magnitude of this kinetic energy depends essentially on the speed at which the vehicle is travelling and on the weight of the vehicle including the occupants. The greater the speed and weight increase, the greater the amount of energy which has to be absorbed in the event of an accident.
The speed of the vehicle is the most important factor. Doubling the speed of the vehicle from 25 km/h up to 50 km/hour increases the kinetic energy four times.
The notion that it is possible to support your body with your hands in a minor accident is incorrect. Even in a collision at only a low speed, the forces acting on the body are such that it is no longer possible to support your body.
Even if you only drive at a speed of 30 km/h to 50 km/h, the forces that your body is exposed to in the event of an accident can exceed a ton (1000 kg).
For example, a person's weight of 80 kg “increases” at 50 km/h to 4.8 tons (4800 kg).
In the event of a frontal collision, occupants of the car not wearing a seat belt are thrown forward and strike parts of the interior of the car, such as the steering wheel, dash panel, windscreen in ways which cannot be controlled » Fig. 4 - A. In certain circumstances you could even be thrown out of the vehicle, which could cause life threatening or even fatal injuries.
It is also important that rear passengers fasten their seat belts, as they could otherwise be thrown through the vehicle in an uncontrolled manner in the event of an accident.
A rear seat passenger who has not fastened the seat belt is a danger not only to himself but also for those seated in the front » Fig. 4 - B.
Fastening and unfastening seat belts
Fig. 5 Fastening/unfastening the seat belt
Fig. 6 Routing of belt webbing over the shoulders and the lap belt/Routing of
belt webbing for an expectant mother
Fasten
A plastic knob in the belt webbing holds the belt tongue in a position which is easy to get hold of.
It is important that the belt is properly routed to ensure seat belts offer the maximum protection.
The shoulder part of the seat belt must never run across the neck but must roughly run over the middle of the shoulder and fit snugly against the chest.
The lap part of the belt must run across the pelvis, must not be lie across the stomach and must always fit snugly » Fig. 6 - C.
Expectant women must also always wear a seat belt. This is the only way of ensuring optimal protection for the unborn child.
The lap part of the belt must be positioned as low as possible on the pelvis on expectant mothers to avoid exerting any pressure on the lower abdomen » Fig. 6 - D.
Release
Release the seat belt only when the vehicle is stationary.
CAUTION
When releasing the seatbelt ensure that the tongue of the lock does not damage the door trim or other parts of the interior.
Belt height adjustment on the front seats
Fig. 7 Front seat: Seat belt height adjuster
The seat belt height adjuster makes it possible to adjust the routing of the front seat belts in the area of the shoulder to the body size.
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