Essential Safety Equipment; SRS Air Bags; Seat belts must be worn in air bag equipped vehicles:- Page 37

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Essential Safety Equipment

SRS Air Bags

Small children must be protected by a child-restraint system as stipulated by law in every 

state and province. In certain states and provinces, larger children must use a child-restraint 

system (page 2-15).

Carefully consider which child-restraint system is necessary for your child and follow 

the installation directions in this Owner's Manual as well as the child-restraint system 

manufacturer's instructions.

Do not use a child-restraint system which employs an upper tether because there is no 

appropriate means to anchor the tether.

WARNING

Seat belts must be worn in air bag equipped vehicles:

Depending only on the air bags for protection during an accident is dangerous. Alone, air 

bags may not prevent serious injuries. The appropriate air bags can be expected to inflate 

only in the first accident, such as frontal, near frontal or side collisions that are at least 

moderate. Vehicle occupants should always wear seat belts.

Always make sure the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light is illuminated 

when using a child-restraint system (With Passenger Occupant Classification System): 

Seating a child in a child-restraint system that is installed on the passenger seat with the 

passenger air bag deactivation indicator light not illuminated is extremely dangerous. In 

an accident, an air bag could inflate and cause serious injuries or even death to the child 

seated in the child-restraint system. Always make sure the passenger air bag deactivation 

indicator light is illuminated.

Refer to Occupant Classification System on page 2-37.

Do not sit too close to the driver and passenger air bags:

Sitting too close to the driver and passenger air bag modules or placing hands or feet on 

them is extremely dangerous. The driver and passenger air bags inflate with great force 

and speed. Serious injuries could occur if someone is too close. The driver should always 

hold onto only the rim of the steering wheel. The passenger should keep both feet on 

the floor. Seat occupants should adjust their seats as far back as possible and always sit 

upright against the seatbacks with seat belts worn properly.

Do not sit too close to a door or lean against doors in vehicles with side air bags:

Sitting too close to the side air bag modules or placing hands on them is extremely 

dangerous. A side air bag inflates with great force and speed directly out of the outboard 

shoulder of the seat and expands along the door on the side the car is hit. Serious injury 

could occur if someone is sitting too close to the door or leaning against a window in the 

seats. Furthermore, sleeping up against the door or hanging out the driver-side window 

while driving could block the side air bag and eliminate the advantages of supplemental 

protection. Give the side air bags room to work by sitting in the center of the seat while 

the vehicle is moving with seat belts worn properly.

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