WARNING Incorrect seat belt routing can cause severe in- juries in the event of an accident or a sudden braking / driving manoeuvre. ● The seat belts only offer best protection when the backrests are in the proper posi- tion and the seat belts have been fastened properly. ● The shoulder part of the seat belt must lie on the centre of the shoulder and never under the arm or across the neck. Fig. 34 Correct seat belt routing during pregnancy. ● The seat belt must lie flat and firmly over the chest. Seat belts only provide an optimum level of pro- tection during an accident and reduce the risk of severe or fatal injuries when they are routed cor- rectly.
Correct seat belt bands routing also holds the vehicle occupants in position so that an in- flating airbag can offer the maximum level of protection. Therefore always fasten your seat belt and ensure that the seat belt routing is cor- rect. ● The lower seat belt strap must always lie across the pelvis, never across the stomach. The seat belt must lie flat and firmly over the pelvis. Slightly loosen the seat belt if neces- sary. ● For pregnant women, the lap part of the seat belt must be as low as possible over the pel- vis around the “bulge” of the belly. ● Do not twist the belt bands while securing the seat belt.
An incorrect sitting position can cause severe or fatal injuries → page 32, Adjusting the seat posi- tion . ● Never hold the seat belt away from the body by hand. ● The belt bands should not lie over hard or fragile objects, such as glasses, pens or keys. Correct seat belt routing – The shoulder part of the seat belt must always lie on the centre of the shoulder, never across the neck, over or under the arm, or behind the back. ● Never use seat belt clips, retaining rings or similar items to alter the seat belt routing. – The lower seat belt strap must always lie across the pelvis, never across the stomach.
If a person's physical build prevents them from routing the seat belt properly, contact a Volkswagen Dealership to find out about any special modifications so that the seat belts and airbags can provide the optimum level of protec- tion. – The seat belt must always lie flat and firm against the body. Slightly stretch the seat belt if necessary → Fig. 33 . For pregnant women , the seat belt must be posi- tioned over the chest and as low as possible over the pelvis, so that no pressure is exerted on the lower body – this applies to all pregnancy stages → Fig. 34 . Correct seat belt routing according to height The seat belt routing can be adjusted as follows:
– Belt height adjuster for the front seats → page 41. – Front seat with height adjustment → page 74. Owner's Manual 40