Leon owner’s manual inglés 1P0012003ee (07. 11) (GT9) leon

18
Safe driving
of the object increases to about 90 kg. You can imagine the severity of the
injuries which might be sustained if this object strikes an occupant as it
flies through the passenger compartment. This increased risk of injury will
be further increased if a loose object is struck by an inflating airbag.
WARNING
●
If pieces of luggage or other objects are secured to the fastening
rings with inappropriate or damaged retaining cords, injuries could be
sustained in the event of braking manoeuvres or accidents.
●
To prevent pieces of luggage or other objects from flying forward, al-
ways use appropriate retaining cords which are secured to the fastening
rings.
●
Never secure a child seat on the fastening rings.


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19
Seat belts
Seat belts
Brief introduction
Before driving: remember your seat belt!
Wearing a seat belt properly can save your life!
In this chapter you will learn the importance of wearing seat belts,
how they work and how to properly fasten, adjust and wear them.
– Read and consider all the information as well as the warnings in
this chapter.
WARNING
●
If seat belts are worn incorrectly or not at all, the risk of severe inju-
ries increases.
●
Properly worn seat belts can reduce severe injuries in case of sudden
braking manoeuvres or accidents. For safety reasons, you and your pas-
sengers must always wear the seat belts properly while the vehicle is
moving.
●
Pregnant women or people with physical disabilities must also use
seat belts. Like all other passengers, these people can also sustain se-
vere injuries if they are not wearing their seat belts properly.

Number of seats
Your vehicle has 
five seats, two in the front and three in the rear. Each seat
is equipped with a three-point seat belt.
In some versions, your vehicle is approved 
only for four seats. Two front
seats and two rear seats.
WARNING
●
More people than available seats must never be transported in your
vehicle.
●
Every passenger in the vehicle must properly fasten and wear the
seat belt belonging to his or her seat. Children must be protected with an
appropriate child restraint system.

Seat belt warning lamp* 
The warning lamp acts as a reminder to the driver to fasten
the seat belt.
Before starting the vehicle:
– Fasten your seat belt securely.
– Instruct your passengers to fasten their seat belts properly be-
fore driving off.
– Protect children by using a child seat according to the child's
height and weight.

Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications

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20
Seat belts
After the ignition has been switched on, the warning lamp  on the instru-
ment panel lights up
1)
 if the driver has not fastened his/her seat belt, and
an acoustic signal is heard if the vehicle is driven at more than 30 km/h.
The warning lamp*  is switched off if the driver seat belt is fastened while
the ignition is switched on.

1)
Depending on the model version

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21
Seat belts
Why wear seat belts?
Physical principles of frontal collisions
In the event of a frontal collision, a large amount of kinetic
energy must be absorbed.
Fig. 6  Vehicle about to
hit a wall: the occupants
are not wearing seat
belts
Fig. 7  The vehicle hits
the wall: the occupants
are not wearing seat
belts
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. 6
, a certain amount of energy
known as kinetic energy is produced in the vehicle and its occupants.
The amount of kinetic energy depends on the speed of the vehicle and the
weight of the vehicle and its 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 is
multiplied by four.
Because the passengers in our example are not restrained by seat belts, in
the case of a head-on collision all of their kinetic energy has to be absorbed
at the point of impact 
⇒ fig. 7
.
Even at speeds of 30 km/h to 50 km/h, the forces acting on bodies in a col-
lision can easily exceed one tonne (1000 kg). At greater speed these forces
are even higher.
Passengers not wearing seat belts are not “attached” to the vehicle. In a
head-on collision, they will move forward at the same speed their vehicle

Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications

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22
Seat belts
was travelling just before the impact. This example applies not only to
head-on collisions, but to all accidents and collisions.

The danger of not using the seat belt
The general belief that the passengers can protect them-
selves with their hands in a minor collision is false.
Fig. 8  A driver not wear-
ing a seat belt is thrown
forward violently.
Fig. 9  The unbelted rear
passenger is thrown for-
ward violently, hitting the
driver wearing a seat
belt.
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 colli-
sion, unbelted passengers are thrown forward and will make violent contact
with the steering wheel, dash panel, windscreen or whatever else is in the
way 
⇒ fig. 8
.
The airbag system is not a substitute for seat belts. When triggered, airbags
provide only additional protection. All occupants (including the driver) must
wear 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 fit-
ted for the seat or not.
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 pas-
sengers who do not use seat belts endanger not only themselves but also
the front occupants 
⇒ fig. 9
.


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