Volkswagen Touran Owners Manual: What happens to passengers who have not fastened their seat belts?

Fig. 54 A driver not wearing a seat belt is thrown forward

Fig. 55 The unbelted rear passenger is thrown forward violently, hitting the driver wearing a seat belt

Many people believe that the occupants 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 it is not possible to brace oneself with arms and hands. In a frontal collision, unbelted passengers are thrown forward and will make unchecked contact with the steering wheel, dash panel, windscreen or whatever else is in the way  .

The airbag system is not a substitute for the seat belts. When deployed, airbags provide only additional protection. Airbags will not be 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 will reduce the risk of severe or fatal injuries in the event of an accident – regardless of whether an airbag is fitted for the seat.

An airbag can only be triggered once. To achieve the best possible protection, the seat belt must always be worn properly so that you will be protected in accidents in which no airbag is deployed. Any vehicle occupants not wearing a seat belt can be thrown out of the vehicle and sustain even more severe or even fatal injuries as a result.

It is also important for the rear passengers to wear seat belts properly, as they could otherwise be thrown forward violently in an accident. Rear passengers who do not use seat belts endanger not only themselves and the driver, but also other people in the vehicle  .