Volkswagen Polo Owners Manual: Frontal collisions and the laws of physics
Fig. 45 Unbelted occupants in a vehicle heading for a brick wall
Fig. 46 Unbelted occupants in a vehicle striking a brick wall
First read and observe the introductory information
and safety warnings
The physical principles involved in a frontal collision are relatively simple. As soon as the vehicle is in motion , both the moving vehicle and its passengers gain kinetic energy.
The higher the vehicle speed and the heavier the weight of the vehicle, the greater the amount of energy that will have to be released in the event of an accident.
However, the most significant factor is the speed of the vehicle. If the speed doubles from approximately 25 km/h (15 mph) to approximately 50 km/h (31 mph), for example, the kinetic energy increases by a factor of four.
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 heavier the weight, the greater the amount of energy that will be released in the event of an accident.
Passengers not wearing seat belts are not connected to the vehicle. In the event of a frontal collision they will continue to move forwards at the same speed at which the vehicle was travelling before impact, until something stops them. Because the passengers in our example are not restrained by seat belts, the entire amount of kinetic energy will only be released at the point of impact against the wall .
Even at speeds of approximately 30 km/h (19 mph) to approximately 50 km/h (31 mph), the forces acting on bodies in a collision can easily exceed one tonne (1,000 kg). These forces are even greater at higher speeds.
This example applies not only to frontal collisions, but to all accidents and collisions.
Warning lamp
Fig. 44 Warning lamp in the instrument
cluster
First read and observe the introductory information
and safety warnings
Lights up or flashes
Possible cause
Solution ...
What happens to vehicle occupants who have not fastened their seat belts
Fig. 47 An unbelted driver is thrown forwards
Fig. 48 The unbelted rear passenger is
thrown forwards, hitting the belted driver
First read and observe the introductory information
and safety ...
Other materials:
Closing the tailgate
Fig. 31 Open tailgate: handle recesses
for closing the tailgate
First read and observe the introductory information
and safety warnings
Closing the tailgate
Grip one of the recesses in the interior trim of the tailgate .
Pull the tailgate down with some force until it engages in th ...
Automatic gearbox: selecting a gear
Fig. 111 Left-hand drive vehicles: selector
lever for automatic gearbox with lock button (arrow)
Fig. 112 Right-hand drive vehicles: selector
lever for automatic gearbox with lock button (arrow)
First read and observe the introductory information
and safety warnings The selector lever is ...
Centre armrest
Fig. 42 Front centre armrest
First read and observe the introductory information
and safety warnings
To lift, pull the centre armrest up gradually in the direction of the
arrow .
To lower, pull the centre armrest all the way up. Then lower the centre
armrest.
WARNING
The centre armrest ...
