terior, e.g. the steering wheel, dash panel, or
.
The airbag system is not a substitute for the
seat belts. When triggered, the airbags only
provide additional protection. Airbags are not
triggered in all kinds of accidents. Even if the
vehicle is equipped with an airbag system, all
vehicle occupants, including the driver, must
fasten their seat belt and wear it correctly
while the vehicle is in motion. This reduces
the risk of severe or fatal injuries in the event
of an accident – regardless of whether an air-
bag is fitted for the seat.
Each airbag can only be triggered once. To
achieve best possible protection, seat belts
must always be worn properly. This also en-
sures that protection is provided in accidents
in which the airbag is not triggered. Any vehi-
cle occupants not wearing a seat belt can be
thrown out of the vehicle and sustain more
severe or even fatal injuries as a result.
It is also important for the rear seat occu-
pants to wear seat belts properly, as they
could otherwise be thrown forwards violently
in an accident. Rear passengers who are not
wearing seat belts endanger not only them-
selves and the driver, but also other people in
the vehicle →
.
Seat belt protection
Please refer to at the start of the chap-
Fig. 25 Driver restrained by a properly posi-
tioned seat belt during a sudden braking ma-
noeuvre.
Correctly fastened seat belts can make a ma-
jor difference. When fastened properly, seat
belts hold the vehicle occupants in the cor-
rect sitting positions and considerably 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, wearing seat belts properly re-
duces the risk of being thrown from the vehi-
Passengers wearing seat belts correctly ben-
efit greatly from the ability of the belts to re-
duce the kinetic energy. The front crumple
zones and other passive safety features (such
as the airbag system) are also designed to re-
duce kinetic energy. The amount of energy
generated will thus decrease, thereby reduc-
ing the risk of injury.
The examples describe frontal collisions. Of
course, properly worn seat belts substantially
reduce the risk of injury in all other types of
accidents. This is why seat belts must be fas-
tened before every trip – even if you are only
planning to drive a very short distance. En-
sure that all passengers also wear their seat
belts properly.
40
Safety
