__ ....:::S~a~f~e~t~y_:b~ e~lt~s!._ _____________________________________________ _
Safety belts protect
People think it's possible to use the hands to brace the
body in a minor collision . It's simply not true!
Fig . 165 Driver is
correctly restrained in
a sudden braking
maneuver
Safety belts used properly can make a big difference. Safety belts
help to keep passengers in their seats, gradually reduce energy
levels app lied to t he body in an accident, and help prevent the
uncontrolled movement that can cause serious injuries. In addition,
safety belts reduce t he danger of being thrown out of the vehic le.
Safety belts attach passengers to the car and give them the benefit
of being slowed down more gently or "softly" through the "give" in
the safety belts, crush zones and other safety features engineered
into today's vehicles. By "absorbing" the kinetic energy over a
longer period of time, the safety belts make the forces on the body
more "tolerable" and less likely to cause injury .
Altho ugh these examples are based on a frontal co llision, safety
belts can also substantially reduce the risk of injury in other kinds
of crashes . So, whether you're on a long trip or just going to the
corner store, always buckle up and make sure others do, too. Acci-
dent statistics show that vehicle occupants properly wearing safety
belts have a lower ris k of being injured and a much better chance of
surviving an accident. Properly using safety belts also greatly
increases the abi lity of the supplementa l airbags to do their job in a
collision . For this reason , wearing a safety belt is legally required in
most countries including much of the United States and Canada.
Although your Audi is equipped with airbags, you sti ll have to wear
the safety belts provided . Front airbags, for example, are activated
only in some frontal collisions . The front airbags are not activated in
all frontal col lisions, in side and rear collisions, in roll ove rs or in
cases where there is not enough dece leration through impact to the
front of the vehicle . The same goes for the other airbag systems in
your Audi . So, always wear your safety belt and make sure every -
body in your vehic le is properly restrained! •
Important safety instructions about safety
belts
Safety belts must always be correctly positioned across
the strongest bones of your body.
Always wear safety belts as illustrated and described in
th is chapter.
Make sure tha t your safe ty belts are always ready f or use
and are not damaged .
& WARNING
Not wearing safety belts or w earing them improperl y increases
the risk of serious personal injury and death . Safety belt s can work
only when used correctly.
• Alway s fasten your safety belt s correctl y before driving off and
make sure all passengers are correctly restrain ed.
• For maximum protect ion, safety belt s must always be posi-
tioned properly on the body.
• Never strap more th an one person, includi ng small children,
into any belt.
• Never place a safety belt over a child sitting on your lap .
• Alway s keep feet in t he foot w ell
in front of the seat while the
vehicle is being driven .
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