Volkswagen Tiguan Owners Manual: Safety and off-road driving

Read and follow the introductory information and safety information first⇒Introduction to the subject 

Proper seating position and safety belt use is always important, regardless of whether you are on the highway or driving off-road.

• Every person in the vehicle must sit properly and wear his or her safety belt whenever the vehicle is moving ⇒ Adjusting the seating position .

• Every occupant must properly fasten the safety belt belonging to the seat he or she occupies and keep the belt properly fastened while riding in the vehicle. This applies to the driver and all passengers, even when driving off-road ⇒ Safety belts .

Safety belts save lives – on the road and off.

Distance to the steering wheel

When driving off-road, you may want to sit a little differently than you would for normal highway driving.

Depending on the terrain, you may need more strength to control the steering wheel because of the higher forces that can come up from the front wheels.

Sit so that you can clearly see the terrain in front of you, especially when you are driving up or down slopes. Never sit so that the distance from the center of your breast bone to the center of the airbag cover on the steering wheel is less than 10 inches ⇒ Adjusting the seating position .

Suitable shoes

Never wear shoes with a slippery sole or high-heels when driving off-road, and never drive off-road barefoot. Always wear shoes that support your feet properly and give you a good feel for the pedals.

Warning

Not wearing safety belts, or wearing them improperly will increase the risk of serious injuries when driving off-road. Holding the steering wheel improperly will reduce your ability to control the vehicle and can also increase the risk of injury when driving off-road.

• Properly worn safety belts are the single most effective means of reducing the risk of serious injury and death during sudden braking or driving maneuvers and in automobile accidents. For this reason, always wear your safety belt properly and make sure all passengers wear their safety belts properly as well whenever the vehicle is moving.

• Never wrap your thumbs around the steering wheel rim. When driving off-road, obstacles in front of the wheels can make the steering wheel jerk suddenly in your hands and cause personal injury. Rest your thumbs pointing up on the on the surface of the steering wheel at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions.