Seat Belt Precautions

Infant or Small Child

Most countries have child restraint laws. You should be aware of the special requirements in your country. Child seats and/or booster seats must be properly positioned and installed in the rear seat. For more information on using these restraints, refer to "Child Restraint System" in this section.

✽ NOTICE

Small children are best protected from injury in an accident when properly secured 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 certifying that it meets the safety standards of your country. The restraint must be suitable for your child's height and weight.

Check the label on the child restraint for this information. Refer to "Child Restraint System" in this section.

Older children

Children who are too large for a child restraint system should always occupy the rear seat and use the available lap/shoulder belts. The lap portion must fit snugly across the hips and as low as possible. Check the belt fit periodically. Child fidgeting may move the belt out of position. Children are safest in an accident when restrained by a properly functioning safety system in the rear seat. If a larger child (over 12 years old) must sit in the front seat, the child must be securely restrained with the available lap/shoulder belt and the seat must be in the rearmost position. Children aged 12 years and under must be securely restrained in the rear seat. NEVER place a child aged 12 years or under in the front seat. NEVER place a rear-facing child seat in the front seat of the vehicle.

If the shoulder belt portion 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 the child restraint system.

WARNING! Small Children

Do not allow small children to ride in the vehicle without an appropriate child restraint system. If the shoulder belt contacts your child's neck or face, your child is too small to ride in the vehicle. In an accident, the seat belt may cause injury to the neck, throat and face.

Pregnant Women Restraint

Pregnant women should wear the lap/shoulder belt assembly whenever possible, following their doctor's specific recommendations. The lap portion of the belt should be worn AS SNUGLY AND LOW AS POSSIBLE on the hips, not across the abdomen.

WARNING - Pregnant Women

Pregnant women must never place the lap portion of the belt above or over the abdomen where the fetus is located. The force of the seat belt during a collision will crush the fetus.

Injured Person

The seat belt should be used when transporting an injured person. When necessary, consult a physician for recommendations.

One person per belt

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

Do not recline

To reduce the likelihood of injury in an accident and to achieve maximum restraint system effectiveness, all occupants must sit upright and the front seatbacks must be in the upright position while the vehicle is moving. The seat belt cannot provide proper protection if a person is lying across the rear seat or if the front seatback is in a reclined position.