Dodge 2004 Freightliner, Owner'S Manual

Page: 37 / 272

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 37
2
SEAT BELTS
WARNING!
• Wearing a seat belt incorrectly is dangerous.
Seat belts are designed to go around the large
bones of your body. These are the strongest
parts of your body and can take the forces of a
collision the best. Wearing your belt in the
wrong place could make your injuries in a colli-
sion much worse. You might suffer internal in-
juries, or you could even slide out of part of the
belt. Follow these instructions to wear your seat
belt safely and to keep your passengers safe, too.
• Two people should never be belted into a single
seat belt. People belted together can crash into
one another in an accident, hurting one another
badly. Never use a lap/shoulder belt or a lap belt
for more than one person, no matter what their
size.
WARNING!
A belt that is buckled into the wrong buckle will
not protect you properly. The lap portion could
ride too high on your body, possibly causing inju-
ries. Always buckle your belt into the buckle near-
est you.
A belt that is too loose will not protect you as well.
In a sudden stop you could move too far forward,
increasing the possibility of injury. Wear your
seat belt snugly.
A belt that is worn under your arm is very
dangerous. Your body could strike the inside
surfaces of the vehicle in a collision, increasing
head and neck injury. A belt worn under the arm
can cause internal injuries. Ribs aren’t as strong as
shoulder bones. Wear the belt over your shoulder
so that your strongest bones will take the force in
a collision.
A shoulder belt placed behind you will not protect
you from injury during a collision. You are more
likely to hit your head in a collision if you do not
wear your shoulder belt. The lap and shoulder
belt are meant to be used together.
Freightliner-all.book Page 37 Monday, December 1, 2003 2:54 PM