Jeep Compass, Owner'S Handbook Manual

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restrain you properly. In some collisions,
air bags won’t deploy at all. Always wear
your seat belt even though you have air
bags.
119)
In a collision, you and your
passengers can suffer much greater
injuries if you are not properly buckled
up. You can strike the interior of your car
or other passengers, or you can be thrown
out of the car. Always be sure you and
others in your vehicle are buckled up
properly.
120) It is dangerous to ride in a cargo
area, inside or outside of a vehicle. In
a collision, people riding in these areas
are more likely to be severely injured or
killed.
121) Do not allow people to ride in any
area of your vehicle that is not equipped
with seats and seat belts.
122) Remember that, in the event of an
accident, the rear seat passengers not
wearing seat belts are exposed to a very
serious risk and also represent a serious
danger for the front seat occupants.
123) Be sure everyone in your vehicle is
in a seat and using a seat belt properly.
Occupants, including the driver, should
always wear their seat belts whether or
not an air bag is also provided at their
seating position to minimize the risk of
severe injury or death in the event of a
crash.
124)
Wearing your belt in the wrong place
could make your injuries in a collision
much worse. You might suffer internal
injuries, 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.
125) Two people should never be belted
into a single seat belt. People belted
together can crash into one another in
a collision, hurting one another badly.
Never use a lap/shoulder belt or lap belt
for more than one person, no matter what
their size.
126) A lap belt worn too high can
increase the risk of injury in a collision.
The belt forces won’t be at the strong
hip and pelvic bones, but across your
abdomen. Always wear the lap part of
your seat belt as low as possible and keep
it snug.
127) A twisted belt may not protect you
properly. In a collision, it could even cut
into you. Be sure the seat belt is flat
against your body, without twists. If
you can’t straighten a seat belt in your
vehicle, take it to your Jeep Dealership
immediately and have it fixed.
128) A seat 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
internal injuries. Always buckle your belt
into the buckle nearest you.
129) A seat belt that is too loose will not
protect you properly. In a sudden stop you
could move too far forward, increasing the
possibility of injury. Wear your seat belt
snugly.
130) A seat belt that is worn under your
arm is dangerous. Your body could
strike the inside surfaces of the car in
an accident, increasing head and neck
injury. The seat belt may in turn cause
internal injuries because the ribs are less
resistant than the shoulders. Wear the
seat belt over your shoulder so that your
strongest bones will take the force in a
collision.
131) A belt strap placed behind you will
not protect you from injury during an
accident. You are more likely to hit your
head in a collision if you do not wear your
belt strap. The lap and shoulder belt are
meant to be used together.
132) A frayed or torn belt could rip apart
in a collision and leave you with no
protection. Inspect the seat belt system
periodically, checking for cuts, frays, or
loose parts. Damaged parts must be
replaced immediately. Do not disassemble
or modify the seat belt system. Seat belt
assemblies must be replaced after a
collision.
133) Position the belt strap across the
shoulder and chest with minimal, if any
slack so that it is comfortable and not
resting on your neck. Correct tension will
be ensured automatically by the retractor.
134) Misadjustment of the seat belt could
reduce the effectiveness of the safety belt
in a crash.
135) The height of the seat belts must be
adjusted with the vehicle stationary.
136) After adjusting the height, always
check that the slider to which the
ring is attached is locked in one of
the designated positions. You should
therefore pull downward again, with seat
belt anchoring release button released, to
enable the release of the anchoring device
if it was not in one of the designated
positions.
137) If the mini-latch plate and mini-
buckle are not properly connected when
the seat belt is used by an occupant,
the seat belt will not be able to provide