Important Safety Precautions

You will find many precautions and safety recommendations in this section and throughout this manual. The instructions listed in this section are among the most important.

Always wear your seat belt.

The seat belt is your best protection in all types of accidents. Airbags are designed to supplement seat belts, but do not replace them. Therefore, even if your vehicle is equipped with airbags, ALWAYS make sure that you and your passengers are wearing seat belts and that they are worn correctly.

Secure all children

All children under 13 years old must be properly restrained in the rear seat of your vehicle, not the front seat. Infants and small children must be secured in an appropriate child restraint system. Older children should use a booster seat, with the lap or shoulder belt, until they can use the seat belt without an additional seat.

Airbag Hazards

Although airbags can save lives, they can also cause serious or fatal injuries to passengers who sit too close to them or are not properly restrained. Infants, small children and short adults are more likely to be injured by an airbag. Follow all instructions and warnings contained in this manual.

Driver Distraction

Driver distraction is a serious and potentially fatal hazard, especially for inexperienced drivers. Safety must be the first concern while driving, and drivers must be aware of a wide range of potential distractions, such as drowsiness, reaching for objects, grooming, other passengers, and the use of mobile phones.

Drivers can be distracted when they take their eyes off the road or when they take their hands off the steering wheel to focus on activities other than driving. To reduce the risk of distraction and accidents:

• ALWAYS set up your mobile devices (e.g. MP3 players, phones, navigation systems, etc.) when your vehicle is safely parked or stopped.
• Use your mobile device ONLY where permitted by law and when conditions allow safe use. NEVER write SMS or e-mail while driving. Most countries have laws prohibiting drivers from texting. Some countries and some cities also prohibit drivers from using phones and laptops.
• NEVER allow the use of a mobile device to distract you from driving. You are responsible to your passengers and others to always drive safely, with your hands on the wheel and your eyes and attention on the road.

Control Your Speed

Speeding is a major factor in collision injuries and deaths. In general, the higher the speed, the greater the risk, but serious injuries can also occur at lower speeds. Never drive faster than is safe for current conditions, regardless of the posted maximum speed.

Keep your vehicle in good condition

A punctured tire or mechanical failure can be extremely dangerous. To reduce the occurrence of such problems, check tire pressure and condition often, and perform regular comprehensive maintenance.