Seat belts

Safety features of your vehicle / Seat belts

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.

WARNING

Seat belts must be used by ALL passengers whenever the vehicle is moving.Take the following precautions when adjusting and wearing seat belts:

• ALWAYS properly restrain children 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 belt.
• NEVER allow an infant or child to be carried on an occupant’s lap.
• NEVER ride with the seatback reclined when the vehicle is moving.
• Do not allow children to share a seat or seat belt.
• Do not wear the shoulder belt under your arm or behind your back.
• 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 webbing 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 fastening securely.
• No modifications or additions should be made by the user which will either prevent the seat belt adjusting devices from operating to remove slack, or prevent the seat belt assembly from being adjusted to remove slack.

WARNING

Damaged seat belts and seat belt assemblies will not operate properly. Always replace:

• Frayed, contaminated, or damaged webbing
• Damaged hardware
• The entire seat belt assembly after it has been worn in an accident, even if damage to webbing or assembly is not apparent

• Seat belt warning light

• Additional seat belt safety precautions