2-18
Safety system of your vehicle
This section describes how to use the
seat belts properly. It also describes
some of the things not to do when using
seat belts.
Seat Belt Safety Precautions
Always fasten your seat belt and make
sure all passengers have fastened their
seat belts before starting any trip. Air
bags are designed to supplement the
seat belt as an additional safety device,
but they are not a substitute. Most states
require all occupants of a vehicle to wear
seat belts.
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Seat belts must be used by ALL
passengers whenever the vehicle is
moving. Take the following precau-
tions when adjusting and wearing
seat belts:
•
ALWAYS properly restrain chil-
dren under age 13 in the rear
seats.
•
NEVER allow children to ride in
the front passenger seat. If a child
age 13 or older must be seated in
the front seat, move the seat as
far back as possible and properly
restrain them in the seat.
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WARNING
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•
NEVER allow an infant or child to
be carried on an occupant’s lap.
•
NEVER ride with the seatback
reclined when the vehicle is mov-
ing.
•
Do not allow children to share a
seat or seat belt.
•
Do not wear the shoulder belt
under your arm or behind your
back.
•
Always wear both the shoulder
portion and lap portion of the
lap/shoulder belt.
•
Do not use the seat belt if it is
twisted. A twisted seat belt will
not protect you properly in an
accident.
•
Do not use a seat belt if the web-
bing or hardware is damaged.
•
Do not latch the seat belt into the
buckles of other seats.
•
NEVER unfasten the seat belt
while driving. This may cause
loss of vehicle control resulting
in an accident.
•
Make sure there is nothing in the
buckle interfering with the seat
belt latch mechanism. This may
prevent the seat belt from fasten-
ing securely.
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(Continued)
•
No modifications or additions
should be made by the user
which will either prevent the seat
belt adjusting devices from oper-
ating to remove slack, or prevent
the seat belt assembly from being
adjusted to remove slack.
Damaged seat belts and seat belt
assemblies will not operate proper-
ly. Always replace:
•
Frayed, contaminated, or dam-
aged webbing
•
Damaged hardware
•
The entire seat belt assembly
after it has been worn in an acci-
dent, even if damage to webbing
or assembly is not apparent
WARNING