FIAT Linea - Manual (Page 110)

109
CORRECT USE OF THE
CAR
W
ARNING
LIGHTS AND MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICA
TIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD AND CONTROLS
SAFETY DEVICES
HOW TO KEEP THE SEAT
BELTS ALWAYS IN EFFICIENT
CONDITIONS
Observe the following:
❒ always use the belt with the tap taut and
never twisted; make sure that it is free
to run without impediments;
❒ replace the belt after an accident of a
certain severity even if it does not ap-
pear damaged. Always replace the belt
if the pretensioners where deployed.
❒ to clean the belt, wash by hand with wa-
ter and mild soap, rinse and leave to dry
in the shade. Do not use strong deter-
gents, bleach, paints or any other sub-
stance which could damage the belt fi-
bres;
❒ keep the reels dry: correct operation
may only be ensured if the reels are dry;
❒ replace the seat belt when showing sig-
nificant wear or cut signs.
For optimal protection in the event of a
crash, all passengers must be seated and
wearing adequate restraint systems.
This is even more important for children.
This prescription is compulsory in all EC
countries according to EC Directive
2003/20/EC.
A child’s head is larger and heavier in pro-
portion to its body and the child’s muscu-
lar and bone structures are not fully de-
veloped. For this reason, they require re-
straint systems which are different from
those used by adults to protect them in the
event of an accident. The research results
in relation to the best protection for chil-
dren is illustrated in European Regulation
EEC-R44 which divides the restraint sys-
tems into five groups in addition to mak-
ing their use compulsory:
Group 0 0-10 kg in weight
Group 0+ 0-13 kg in weight
Group 1 9-18 kg in weight
Group 2 15-25 kg in weight
Group 3 22-36 kg in weight
As it may be noted, the groups overlap
partly and in fact, in commerce it is pos-
sible to find devices that cover more than
one weight group.
All restraint devices must bear the certi-
fication data, together with the control
brand, on a solidly fixed label which must
absolutely never be removed.
CARRYING CHILDREN SAFELY
103-120 LINEA 1ed GB 3-09-2008 17:30 Pagina 109