Volkswagen Polo Owners Manual: The dangers of assuming an incorrect sitting position

Volkswagen Polo Owners Manual / Sitting correctly and safely / Adjusting the seat position / The dangers of assuming an incorrect sitting position

First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings

If the seat belts are not worn or are worn incorrectly, the risk of severe or fatal injuries increases. Seat belts can only provide optimal protection if the seat belt routing is correct. Assuming an incorrect sitting position considerably impairs the level of protection provided by a seat belt. This could lead to severe or even fatal injuries. The risk of severe or fatal injuries is especially increased when a triggering airbag strikes an occupant who has assumed an incorrect sitting position. The driver is responsible for all vehicle passengers, especially if they are children.

The following list contains examples of sitting positions that could be dangerous for all occupants.

Whenever the vehicle is in motion:

Never stand in the vehicle.

Never stand on the seats.

Never kneel on the seats.

Never tilt the backrest too far to the rear.

Never lean against the dash panel.

Never lie on the rear bench seat.

Never sit on the front edge of a seat.

Never sit sideways.

Never lean out of a window.

Never put your feet out of a window.

Never put your feet on the dash panel.

Never place your feet on the seat cushion or seat backrest.

Never travel in a footwell.

Never sit on the front armrest.

Never travel on a seat without wearing the seat belt.

Never travel in the luggage compartment.

WARNING

Every incorrect sitting position in the vehicle increases the risk of severe or fatal injuries in the event of an accident or sudden driving or braking manoeuvre.

All vehicle occupants must maintain a correct sitting position and wear their seat belt properly while the vehicle is in motion.

Sitting in an incorrect position, not fastening the seat belt, or leaving too short a distance to the airbag exposes the occupants to the risk of sustaining critical or fatal injuries, especially if the airbags deploy and strike an occupant who has assumed an incorrect sitting position.

Introduction

This chapter contains information on the following subjects: → The dangers of assuming an incorrect sitting position → Correct sitting position → Mechanical controls on th ...

Correct sitting position

Fig. 35 There must be a distance Ⓐ of at least 25 cm between the driver and the steering wheel. Fig. 36 Correct seat belt routing and head restraint adjustment First read and observe the int ...

Other materials:

Various securing systems
Fig. 62 On the rear seats: figure Ⓐ illustrates the main securing points for the child restraint system on the lower retaining rings and top tether. Figure Ⓑ shows how to secure a child restraint system using the vehicle's seat belt First read and observe the introductory information a ...

Service position for the front windscreen wipers
Fig. 74 Wiper blades in service position First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings The windscreen wiper arms can be lifted off the windscreen when in the service position . Carry out the following steps to move the windscreen wipers to the service position: ...

Using a child seat on the rear seats
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings When fitting a child seat to a rear seat, the position of the front seat must be adjusted to ensure that the child has sufficient space. Adjust the front seat according to the size of the child seat and child. Ensure that ...