Seat Belt Precautions

WARNING All vehicle occupants must always keep their seat belts fastened. Seat belts and child seats reduce the risk of injury to occupants in the event of sudden braking or an accident. If occupants do not wear seat belts, they risk being thrown too close to the airbags, striking some part of the passenger compartment, or being ejected from the vehicle.

Correctly wearing the seat belts drastically reduces the risk of the above conditions occurring.

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

Infants or small children

You must comply with the laws in force in your country. Child seats and/or infant seats must be correctly installed on the rear seat. For more information on using these seats, refer to "Child Safety Seat" in this same section.

WARNING All vehicle occupants must always remain properly restrained in their seats, including infants and children. Never hold children on your lap or in your arms while the vehicle is moving. The force of impact released in a collision would tear the child from your arms and throw them against the interior structure of the passenger compartment. Always use a child seat suitable for the child's height and weight.

NOTE To ensure children are protected to the maximum extent in the event of an accident, they must be seated in the rear seat and in a child seat that complies with the laws in force in your country. Before purchasing a seat, make sure it bears the label certifying compliance with the laws in force in your country. The seat must be suitable for the child's height and weight. For this information, check the label on the seat. See "Child Safety Seat" later in this same section.

Older children

Children who are too large for a child seat must always sit in the rear seats and fasten the three-point seat belts. The lap portion must be positioned as low as possible so that it fits snugly across the hips. Check the belt position periodically. Children's typical movements may shift the belt. For children to receive maximum protection in the event of an accident, they must be seated in the rear seats and properly restrained. If a teenager (over 12 years of age) must sit in the front seat, they must fasten the seat belt with the seat moved as far back as possible. Children under 12 years of age must sit in the rear seats and be properly restrained there. NEVER allow a child under 12 years of age to sit in the front seat. NEVER install a rear-facing child seat on the front seat.

If the shoulder portion of the belt lightly touches the child's neck or face, have the child move toward the center of the seat. If the shoulder portion still touches the face or neck, a child safety seat must be used.

WARNING - Shoulder belts and small children

• Always prevent the shoulder portion of the belt from touching the child's neck or face while the vehicle is moving.
• If seat belts are not worn and adjusted correctly, they can cause serious, even fatal, injuries to a child.

Pregnant women

To reduce the risk of injury in the event of an accident, seat belts are recommended for pregnant women. When wearing a seat belt, the lap portion must be fastened as low as possible and must fit snugly across the hips, not the abdomen. For specific advice, consult a doctor.

WARNING - Pregnant women Pregnant women must never place the lap portion of the seat belt over the abdomen where the fetus is located, nor above the abdomen where the belt could crush the fetus in the event of an accident.

Injured persons When transporting an injured person, the seat belt must be used. In this case, however, consult a doctor for the appropriate recommendations.

One person per seat belt Never use the same seat belt for two persons (children included). This could increase the severity of injuries in the event of an accident.

Do not lie down For the passive safety system to provide maximum protection in the event of an accident, thereby reducing the risk of injury, all occupants must sit upright while the vehicle is moving, and the front and rear seatbacks must be fully upright. A seat belt cannot provide effective protection if the occupant is lying down in the rear seat or if the front or rear seatbacks are reclined.

WARNING Travelling while leaning against a reclined seatback increases the risk of serious, sometimes fatal, injuries in the event of sudden braking or an accident. Reclining the seatback drastically lowers the level of protection provided by the passive safety system (seat belts and airbags). To function properly, seat belts must fit snugly across the hips and chest.

The more the seatback is reclined, the greater the risk that the occupant will slide under the lap portion of the belt, with a high probability of serious internal injuries, or that their neck will strike the shoulder portion of the belt.

Both the driver and passengers must always be properly seated in their seats, with seat belts fastened and seatbacks upright.