Additional Seat Belt Precautions

Using Seat Belts During Pregnancy

Seat belts should always be used during pregnancy. The best way to protect your unborn child is to protect yourself by always wearing your seat belt.

Pregnant women should always wear the shoulder belt. Position the shoulder belt across the chest, between the breasts and away from the neck. Position the lap belt so that it fits snugly as low as possible across the hips, not across the abdomen.

WARNING

• A pregnant woman or an injured person is more vulnerable to any impact to the abdomen in a sudden stop or accident. If you are involved in an accident while pregnant, we recommend that you consult a doctor.
• To reduce the risk of serious injury or death to the unborn child in an accident, pregnant women should NEVER position the lap portion of the seat belt above or over the abdominal area where the unborn child is located.

Seat belts and children

Infants and Small Children

All 50 states have child restraint laws that require children to travel in approved child restraint systems, including child seats. The age at which seat belts may be used instead of child restraints varies by state, so you should know the specific requirements in your state and where you are traveling. Infant and child restraints must be properly placed and installed in the rear seat. For more information, see "Child Restraint Systems" in this chapter.

WARNING

ALWAYS properly secure infants and small children in a child restraint suitable for the child's height and weight.

To reduce the risk of serious injury or death to the child and other occupants, NEVER hold a child on your lap or in your arms while the vehicle is moving. In a crash, the force generated will tear the child from your arms and throw the child against the interior of the vehicle.

Young children are best protected from injury in a crash when they are properly restrained in the rear seat with a child restraint system that meets the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Before buying a child restraint system, make sure it has a label confirming that it complies with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard FMVSS 213. The seat must match your child's height and weight. For this information, refer to the label on the child restraint. Refer to the "Child Restraint Systems" section in this chapter.

Older children

Children up to 13 years old who are too large for a booster seat should always occupy the rear seat and use the available lap/shoulder belts. The seat belt must lie across the upper thighs and fit snugly against the shoulder and chest to hold the child securely. Check the fit of the belt periodically. Children receive the greatest protection in an accident when they are restrained by a proper restraint system and/or seat belts in the rear seat. Always have the LATCH system checked by your authorized HYUNDAI dealer after an accident. An accident may damage the LATCH system and may not properly anchor the child restraint.

If a larger child over 13 years old must sit in the front seat, the child must be securely restrained by the available lap/shoulder belt, and the seat must be moved to the rearmost position.

If the shoulder belt lightly touches the child's neck or face, try moving the child closer to the center of the vehicle. If the shoulder belt still touches the face or neck, the child must be returned to an appropriate booster seat in the rear seat.

WARNING

• Always make sure children are buckled up and properly adjusted before driving.
• NEVER allow the shoulder belt to touch the child's neck or face.
• Do not allow more than one child to use one seat belt.

Transporting an injured person

A seat belt should be used when transporting an injured person. Consult a doctor for specific recommendations.

One person per belt

Two people (including children) should never attempt to use one seat belt. This may increase the severity of injuries in an accident.

Do not recline

Sitting in a reclined position while the vehicle is moving can be dangerous. Even when buckled up, the protection of your restraint system (seat belts and airbags) is significantly reduced if the seatback is reclined.

To reduce the likelihood of injury in an accident and achieve maximum restraint system effectiveness, all occupants must sit upright, and front and rear seats must be in the upright position when the vehicle is moving.

A seat belt cannot provide proper protection if a person is lying down in the rear seat or if the front or rear seats are reclined.

WARNING

• NEVER sit behind the steering wheel with the seatback reclined while the vehicle is moving.
• Riding with the seatback reclined increases the likelihood of serious or fatal injury in a collision or sudden stop.
• Drivers and passengers should always sit in their seats, properly secured with the seat belt and with the seatbacks in the upright position.