Precautions when using seat belts

WARNING

While the vehicle is in motion, the driver and all passengers must always wear seat belts. Seat belts and child safety seats reduce the likelihood of serious or fatal injury to all occupants in the event of a collision or sudden stop. Without a seat belt, occupants may be positioned too close to a deploying airbag, may strike interior components, or may be ejected from the vehicle. Proper use of seat belts significantly reduces the likelihood of such incidents.

Always observe the precautions regarding seat belts, airbags and seats contained in this manual.

Infants and young children

Be aware of the special requirements in effect in the country where the vehicle is operated. Child safety seats must be properly positioned and secured on the rear seat of the vehicle. For more detailed information on the use of these seats, refer to the "Child Safety Seats" section in this chapter.

WARNING

Make sure that all occupants of the vehicle, including children of any age, are properly secured with seat belts.

Never hold a child in your arms or on your lap while the vehicle is in motion. The large forces generated in a collision can tear the child from an adult's arms, and the child may strike interior parts of the vehicle.

Always use a child safety seat that matches the child's height and weight.

NOTE

The best protection for small children in a traffic accident is provided when they are properly restrained in a child safety seat that complies with the safety standards of the country in which the vehicle is operated. Before purchasing any child safety seat, make sure it is marked as complying with the safety standards of that country. The child safety seat must match the child's height and weight. Check this on the label attached to the child safety seat. See

the "Child Safety Seats" section in this chapter.

Older children

Children who have outgrown child safety seats must always ride in the rear seat and use the appropriate lap and shoulder seat belts.

The lap belt must be fastened snugly across the hips, as low as possible.

Check the belt position periodically. A restless child may cause the belt to shift out of position while the vehicle is in motion.

Children are best protected in a traffic accident when they properly use seat belts in the rear seat. If an older child (over 12 years old) must ride in the front seat, the child must be securely fastened with the lap/shoulder belt, and the seat must be moved as far back as possible. Children under 12 years old must ride in the rear seat and be securely fastened with seat belts. NEVER place a child under 12 years old in the front seat.

NEVER install a rear-facing child safety seat in the front passenger seat of the vehicle.

If the shoulder portion of the seat belt rests against the child's neck or face, try moving the child closer to the centerline of the vehicle.

WARNING

- Use of shoulder belts for young children

• Never allow the shoulder belt to contact the child's neck or face while the vehicle is in motion.
• If seat belts are incorrectly positioned and adjusted, there is a risk of death or serious injury to the child.

Pregnant Women

Use of seat belts by pregnant women is recommended to reduce the likelihood of injury in a traffic accident.

When using a seat belt, the lap portion must be positioned as low as possible and comfortably across the hips, not across the abdomen.

For more detailed recommendations, consult a physician.

WARNING

- Pregnant women

Do not position the seat belt so that any part crosses the abdominal area where the fetus is located, or above that area, as belt pressure may injure the fetus.

Injured persons

Seat belts must be used when transporting injured persons. If necessary, consult a physician for recommendations.

One person per seat belt

Two people (including children) must never share one seat belt. This may increase the severity of injuries in the event of a traffic accident.

Do not lie down in the vehicle.

To reduce the likelihood of injury in an accident and to achieve maximum effectiveness of the passive safety system, all occupants must sit upright while the vehicle is in motion, and the seatbacks of the front and rear seats must be in the upright position. The seat belt cannot provide adequate protection if a passenger is lying on the rear seat, or if the front and rear seatbacks are reclined.

WARNING

If the seatback of the seat occupied by a person is reclined rearward while the vehicle is in motion, this increases the risk of serious injury or fatal injury in the event of a collision or sudden stop.

The level of protection provided by passive safety devices (seat belts and airbags) is significantly reduced when the seatback is reclined rearward. To ensure proper operation of the seat belts, they must lie snugly across the occupant's hips and chest.

The greater the angle of the seatback from vertical, the higher the likelihood that the occupant's hips will slide under the lap belt, which may result in serious internal injuries or the occupant's neck striking the shoulder belt. The driver and passengers must always be seated firmly against the seatbacks, their seat belts must be properly fastened, and the seatbacks must be in the upright position.