Seat Belt Precautions

Infant or Small Child

You must be aware of the specific requirements in your country. The child and/or child restraint seats must be properly positioned and installed in the rear seat. For more information on using these restraint devices, refer to "Child Restraint System" in this section.

Older children

Children who are too large for child restraint systems should always ride in the rear seat and use the available lap/shoulder belts. The lap portion should fit snugly across the hips and as low as possible. Periodically check the belt fit. Slouching can move the belt out of position. Children receive the greatest protection in a crash when they are restrained by a proper restraint system in the rear seat. If a larger child (older than 13 years) must ride in the front seat, the child must be securely restrained with the available lap/shoulder belt and the seat must be placed in the rearmost position. Children 13 years old and younger should always be securely restrained in the rear seat. NEVER place a child under 13 years old in the front seat. NEVER install a rear-facing child seat in the front seat of the vehicle.

If the shoulder belt portion contacts the child's neck or face, try moving the child closer to the center of the vehicle. If the shoulder belt still contacts the face or neck, the child must be returned to a 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 the child's neck or face, your child is too small to ride in the vehicle. In a crash, the seat belt may injure the child's neck, throat and face.

Pregnant Women Restriction

Pregnant women should wear the lap and shoulder belt assembly whenever possible, in accordance with the specific recommendations of their physicians. The lap portion of the belt should be worn AS SNUG AND LOW AS POSSIBLE on the hips, not on the abdomen.

WARNING - Pregnant Women

Pregnant women should never position the lap portion of the seat belt above or over the abdomen, where the fetus is located. The force of the seat belt in 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 guidance.

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

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