Driver and Passenger Safety
21
If a Child Requires Close
Attention
Many parents say they prefer to
put an infant or small child in the
front passenger seat so they can
watch the child, or because the
child requires attention.
Placing a child in the front seat
exposes the child to hazards from
the airbag, and paying close
attention to a child distracts the
driver from the important tasks of
driving, placing both of you at
risk.
If a child requires physical
attention or frequent visual
contact, we strongly recommend
that another adult ride with the
child in the back seat. The back
seat is far safer for a child than the
front.
Additional Safety
Precautions
•
Use child-safe door locks to
prevent children from opening
the doors. Using this feature
will prevent children from
opening the doors and
accidentally falling out (see
page
105
).
•
Use the main power window
switch to prevent children
from opening the rear
windows. Using this feature
will prevent children from
playing with the windows,
which could expose them to
hazards or distract the driver
(see page
107
).
•
Do not leave children alone in
your vehicle. Leaving children
without adult supervision is
illegal in most states and can be
very hazardous. For example,
infants and small children left
in a vehicle on a hot day can
die from heat stroke. And
children left alone with the key
in the ignition can accidentally
set the vehicle in motion,
possibly injuring themselves or
others.
•
Keep vehicle keys and remote
transmitters out of the reach
of children. Even very young
children learn how to unlock
vehicle doors, turn on the
ignition, and open the tailgate,
which can lead to accidental
injury or death.
