Important Safety Precautions

This section presents many safety precautions and recommendations that appear throughout this section and this entire manual. The safety precautions described in this section are among the most important.

Always Wear Your Seat Belt

The seat belt is the best protection in the event of a collision. Airbags are designed to supplement seat belts, not replace them. Therefore, even if your vehicle is equipped with airbags, you and your passengers must ALWAYS be properly restrained.

Secure all children

All children under 13 years old should ride in the rear seat (not in the front passenger seat) and be properly restrained. Infants and small children must be secured in an appropriate child restraint system. OUR taller children should use a booster with a 3-point seat belt until they can properly use the seat belt without an additional seat.

Airbag Hazards

Although airbags help save lives, they can also cause serious injury or death to passengers who sit too close or are improperly restrained. Infants, small children, and short adults are most at risk of injury from airbag deployment. Be sure to 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 remain the primary concern while driving, and drivers should be aware of a large number of potential distractions: drowsiness, reaching for objects, eating, grooming while driving, other passengers, use of a phone or laptop, etc. Drivers may become distracted when they take their eyes and attention off the road or when they take their hands off the steering wheel to focus on something other than driving. To reduce the risk of distraction and accidents:

• ALWAYS set up your mobile devices (such as MP3 players, phones, navigation devices, etc.) when your vehicle is parked or stopped in a completely safe location.
• Use your mobile device ONLY where permitted by law and when it is safe to do so. NEVER text or send e-mails while driving. Most countries have laws prohibiting text messaging while driving. Some countries and cities also prohibit the use of mobile phones while driving.
• NEVER allow the use of a mobile device to distract you while driving. You must drive carefully, keep your hands on the steering wheel, and do not take your eyes off the road to ensure the safety of your vehicle, passengers, and other road users.

Control Your Speed

Speed is a major cause of injuries and deaths in accidents. As a general rule, the higher the speed, the greater the risk, but serious injuries can also occur at low speeds. Always adjust your speed to the conditions you encounter, regardless of the authorized maximum speed.

Keep your vehicle in good operating condition

A tire blowout or mechanical failure can be dangerous. To avoid such problems, regularly check the pressure and condition of your tires and perform all scheduled inspections in accordance with the maintenance schedule.