Supplemental Restraint Precautions

Using Seat Belts During Pregnancy

A seat belt should always be worn 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 lap and shoulder seat belt. Place the shoulder belt across the chest, between the breasts and away from the neck. Position the lap belt under the abdomen so that it fits SNUGLY over the hips and pelvic bones, below the rounded part of the abdomen.

WARNING

To reduce the risk of serious injury or death to the unborn child in an accident, pregnant women must NEVER place the lap portion of the seat belt above or over the abdomen where the unborn child is located.

Seat belts and children

Infants and Small Children

Most countries have child restraint laws that require children to travel in an approved child restraint system, including booster seats. The age at which seat belts may be used instead of child restraint systems varies by country, so you should know the specific requirements in your country and where you are traveling. Infant and child restraint systems must be properly placed and installed in the rear seat.

For more information, refer to "Child Restraint Systems" in this chapter.

WARNING

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

To reduce the risk of serious injury or death to the child and other passengers, NEVER hold a child on your lap or in your arms while the vehicle is moving. The violent forces generated in a crash will tear the child from your arms and throw the child around the vehicle interior.

Small children are best protected from injury in an accident when properly restrained in the rear seat by a child restraint system that meets the safety standards of your country. Before purchasing any child restraint system, make sure it has a label confirming that it meets the safety standards of your country.

The child restraint system must match your child's height and weight. Check the label on the child restraint system for this information. Refer to the "Child Restraint Systems" section in this chapter.

Older children

Children under the age of 13 and persons too large for a booster seat must always sit in the rear seat and use the lap/shoulder seat belts. The lap belt should lie across the upper thighs and the shoulder belt should be snug across the shoulder and chest to securely hold the child. Check the belt fit periodically. Child squirming may move the belt out of position. In an accident, children are provided with better protection when restrained by a proper child restraint system in the rear seats.

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 furthest rearward position.

If the shoulder belt touches the child's neck or face, try moving the child closer to the center of the vehicle. If the shoulder belt still touches their face or neck, they should return to an appropriate booster seat in the rear seat.

WARNING

• Always make sure that child seat belts are fastened and properly adjusted.
• NEVER allow the shoulder belt to touch the child's neck or face.
• Do not allow more than one child to use a single seat belt.

Using Seat Belts and Injured Persons

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

One person per belt

Two persons (including children) should never attempt to use one seat belt. This may increase the severity of injury in a crash.

Do Not Recline

Sitting in a reclined position while the vehicle is moving can be dangerous. Even when belted, the protection provided by the safety system (seat belts and/or airbags) is significantly reduced by reclining the seatback.

Seat belts must fit snugly against the hips and chest to work properly.

In a crash, you may slide under the seat belt, resulting in neck or other injuries.

The more the seatback is reclined, the greater the chance for the occupant's hips to slide under the lap belt, or for the occupant's neck to strike the shoulder belt.

WARNING

• NEVER drive with the seatback reclined while the vehicle is moving.
• Riding with the seatback reclined increases your chances of serious or fatal injury in the event of a collision or sudden stop.
• The driver and passengers must always sit properly in their seats, wear seat belts correctly, and keep seatbacks upright.