Essential Safety Equipment- Page 14

2–2

Essential Safety Equipment

Seats

     Seat  Precautions

WARNING

  Make sure the adjustable components of a seat are locked in place:

  Adjustable seats and seatbacks that are not securely locked are dangerous. In a 
sudden stop or collision, the seat or seatback could move, causing injury. Make sure the 
adjustable components of the seat are locked in place by attempting to slide the seat 
forward and backward and rocking the seatback.
  

  Never allow children to adjust a seat:

  Allowing children to adjust a seat is dangerous as it could result in serious injury if a 
child's hands or feet become caught in the seat.
  

  Do not drive with the seatback unlocked:

  All of the seatbacks play an important role in your protection in a vehicle. Leaving the 
seatback unlocked is dangerous as it can allow passengers to be ejected or thrown 
around and baggage to strike occupants in a sudden stop or collision, resulting in severe 
injury. After adjusting the seatback at any time, even when there are no other passengers, 
rock the seatback to make sure it is locked in place.
  

  Adjust the driver's seat only when the vehicle is stopped:

  Adjusting the driver's seat while the vehicle is moving is dangerous. The driver could lose 
control of the vehicle and have an accident.
  

  Do not modify or replace the front seats:

  Modifying or replacing the front seats such as replacing the upholstery or loosening 
any bolts is dangerous. The front seats contain air bag components essential to the 
supplemental restraint system. Such modifi cations could damage the supplemental 
restraint system and result in serious injury. Consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer if there 
is any need to remove or reinstall the front seats.
  

  Do not drive with damaged front seats:

  Driving with damaged front seats is dangerous. A collision, even one not strong enough 
to infl ate the air bags, could damage the front seats which contain essential air bag 
components. If there was a subsequent collision, an air bag may not deploy which could 
lead to injuries. Always have an Authorized Mazda Dealer inspect the front seats, front 
seat belt pretensioners and air bags after a collision.
  

  Do not drive with either front seats reclined:

  Sitting in a reclined position while the vehicle is moving is dangerous because you do not 
get the full protection from seat belts. During sudden braking or a collision, you can slide 
under the lap belt and suff er serious internal injuries. For maximum protection, sit well 
back and upright.