General information
All cars considered in this Guide are equipped with a set of tools designed to protect the driver and passengers in the event of a traffic accident. This includes seats equipped with head restraints, seat belts (passive elements), as well as emergency automatic belt tensioners, front and side airbags for the driver and front passenger (active elements), and if equipped, head cushions (curtains) security.
Some components of security systems, being an integral part of the vehicle structure, do not require additional attention from the vehicle owner. These include a strong steel frame that forms the structure of the cab, which houses the passenger compartment, front and rear crumple zones to absorb impact energy in a collision, and automatic seat belt tensioners (additional equipment), which automatically take up the slack in the belts in the event of an impact.
Passive safety elements
Seat belts
To ensure the safety of the driver and passengers, all car seats are equipped with seat belts.
A special warning lamp is mounted in the instrument panel of some models, reminding the driver and passengers of the need to fasten their seat belts (see Section Instrument cluster, meters and control lamps and indicator lights).
The position of the seats and their backs
The design of car seats guarantees maximum comfort for the person sitting in them, while at the same time providing conditions for the most effective performance of their functions by seat belts and airbags. The soft padding of the cushions and backrests provides additional protection for the seated person in emergency situations.
The choice of seat position also has an impact on the safety of the person sitting in it. For example, if the seat is too close to the steering wheel/dashboard, there is an increased risk of injury to the occupant if the airbag deploys, as well as the risk of being thrown through the windshield in a frontal collision.
Increasing the inclination of the seat back will worsen the fixation of the body by the seat belt - the more the back is tilted back, the higher the likelihood of slipping of the body sitting under the lap section of the belt in a strong frontal impact, and the more severe the injuries can be.
Fix the position of the front seat as far as possible (convenient for driving) away from the steering wheel/dashboard position, bring the backrest to a vertical position.
Headrests
Head restraints prevent injury to the cervical spine and head in a rear impact. The head restraint must be adjusted in height so that its upper cut is flush with the upper edge of the ear of the seated person (see Section Rules for the use of passive safety equipment for the driver and passengers).
Active security features
Active safety elements include elements of the SRS system (see Section Additional security system (SRS)).