Volkswagen Polo Owners Manual: 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 warnings
Many people believe that they can brace their weight with their hands in a minor collision. This is not true.
Even at low speeds, the forces acting on the body in a collision are so great that occupants cannot brace themselves with their arms and hands. In a frontal collision, unbelted vehicle occupants are thrown forwards and will make unchecked contact with parts of the vehicle interior, e.g. the steering wheel, dash panel, or windscreen .
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 airbag 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 ensures that protection is provided in accidents in which the airbag is not triggered. Any vehicle 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 occupants 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 themselves and the driver, but also other people in the vehicle .
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 ...
Seat belt protection
Fig. 49 Driver restrained by a properly
positioned seat belt during a sudden braking manoeuvre
First read and observe the introductory information
and safety warnings
Correctly fastened seat be ...
Other materials:
Types of front passenger front airbag system
First read and observe the introductory information
and safety warnings
Volkswagen offers two different front
airbag systems for front passengers:
A
B
Features of the front passenger front airbag that can only be switched
off by a qualif ...
Battery with Visual Indicator, Enhanced
This is a maintenance-free battery with liquid electrolyte
(wet battery).
Caution
Do not remove any of the labels on the battery and
do not add distilled water. Only perform a visual
...
Ashtray in the drink holder
First read and observe the introductory information
and safety warnings
Fig. 104 Removable ashtray
To use, place the removable ashtray in one of the drink holders in the front
centre console or in the rear centre console .
Opening and closing the ashtray
To open, lift the ashtray cove ...
