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. Place the shoulder belt across the chest, between the breasts, and away from the neck. Place the lap belt under the belly, so that it fits SNUGLY over the hips and pelvic bone, below the rounded part of the abdomen.

WARNING

• Pregnant women and patients are more vulnerable to any impact to the abdomen during sudden braking or an accident. If you are involved in an accident while pregnant, consult a physician.
• 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

Laws on child restraint systems in most countries require that children travel in approved child restraint systems, including booster seats. The age at which seat belts may be used instead of a child restraint system varies by country, so you should know the specific requirements in your country and in any country where you travel. An infant or child restraint system must be properly positioned and installed on the rear seat.

For additional information, refer to the "Child Restraint Systems" section in this chapter.

WARNING

ALWAYS properly secure infants and small children in a child restraint system that is appropriate 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 in motion. The forces generated in an accident will tear the child from your arms and throw the child against the interior of the vehicle.

Small children are best protected in a crash when properly secured in a child restraint system on the rear seat that meets the safety standards of your country. Before purchasing any child restraint system, make sure it has a label confirming that it complies with the safety standards of your country.

The child restraint system must be appropriate for your child's height and weight. For this information, refer to the label on the child restraint system. Refer to the "Child Safety Systems" section in this chapter.

Older children

Children up to 13 years old who are too large for a child seat should always ride in the rear seat and use the available lap/shoulder belts. The seat belt should lie across the upper thighs and fit snugly against the shoulder and chest to hold the child securely. Check the belt fit periodically, as children's slouching may move the belt out of position. In a crash, children are best protected in the rear seats with an appropriate child restraint system.

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 that children's 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 one seat belt.

Using Seat Belts and Injured Persons

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 you are wearing your seat belt, the protection provided by the restraint system (seat belts and/or airbags) is significantly reduced if the seatback is reclined.

For proper operation, seat belts must fit snugly across the hips and chest.

In a crash, you may be thrown by the seat belt, resulting in neck or other injuries.

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

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 the event of a collision or sudden stop.
• The driver and passengers must always sit upright with seatbacks in the vertical position and must be properly secured with seat belts.