13
Driver and Passenger Safety
Improperly positioning head
restraints reduces their
effectiveness and you can be
seriously injured in a crash.
Make sure head restraints are
in place and positioned
properly before driving.
Properly adjusted head restraints
will help protect occupants from
whiplash and other crash injuries.
See page
93
for how to adjust the
head restraints.
5
. Fasten and Position the
Seat Belts
Using a Lap/Shoulder Belt
Insert the latch plate into the
buckle, then tug on the belt to
make sure the belt is securely
latched. Also check that the belt is
not twisted, because a twisted belt
can cause serious injuries in a
crash.
Position the lap part of the belt as
low as possible across your hips,
then pull up on the shoulder part
of the belt so the lap part fits
snugly. This lets your strong
pelvic bones take the force of a
crash and reduces the chance of
internal injuries.
If necessary, pull up on the belt
again to remove any slack from
the shoulder part, then check that
the belt rests across the center of
your chest and over your shoulder.
This spreads the forces of a crash
over the strongest bones in your
upper body.
Improperly positioning the seat
belts can cause serious injury
or death in a crash.
Make sure all seat belts are
properly positioned before
driving.
