1993 BUICK REGAL Owners Manual

The lap part of the belt should be worn low and snug on
the hips, just touching the thighs. In a crash, this applies
force to the strong pelvic bones. And you'd be less
likely to slide under the lap belt.
If you slid under it, the
belt would apply force at your abdomen. This could
cause serious or even fatal injuries. The shoulder belt
should go over the shoulder and across the chest. These
parts of the body are best able to take belt restraining
forces.
The safety belt locks if there's a sudden stop or a crash.
1 A CAUTION:
You can be seriously hurt if your shoulder belt is I
too loose. In a crash you would move forward
too much, which could increase injury. The
shoulder belt should fit against your body.
L
a To unlatch the belt, just push the button on the
buckle.
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Children Smaller Children and Babies
Everyone in a vehicle needs protection! That includes
infants and all children smaller than adult size. In fact,
the law in every state and Canadian province
says
children up to some age must be restrained while in a
vehicle.
iAu I ION:
Smaller children and babies should al--Jys be
restrained in a child
or infant restraint. The
instructions for the restraint will say whether it is
the right type and size for your child.
A very
young child’s hip bones are
so small that a
regular belt might not stay low on the hips, as it
should. Instead, the belt will likely be over the
I
child’s abdomen. In a crash the belt would appl)
force right on the child’s abdomen, which could
cause serious or
fatal injuries. So, be sure that
any child small enough for one is always
araaerlv restrained in a child or infant restrail I
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Never hold a baby in your arms while rid-fAg in a
vehicle.
A baby doesn't weigh much -- until a
crash. During a crash a baby will become
so
heavy you can't hold it. For example, in a crash
at only 25 mph (40 kmlh), a 12-pound
(5.5 kg:
baby will suddenly become a 240-pound (1
10 I force on your arms. The baby would be almost
impossible to "dd.
A
CL __ 3N: (Co nued)
cure the baby in an infant restraint.
L
1-
I CAUTIQN: (Continued) 1
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Child Restraints
Be sure to follow the instructions for the restraint. You
may find these instructions on the restraint itself or in a
booklet, or both. These restraints
use the belt system in
your vehicle, but the child also has to be secured within
the restraint
to help reduce the chance of personal injury.
The instructions that come with the infant or child
restraint will show
you how to do that.
Where to Put the Restraint
Accident statistics show that children are safer if they
are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat. We at
General Motors therefore recommend that
you put your
child restraint in the rear seat unless the child
is an
infant and you're the only adult in the vehicle. In that
case, you might want to secure the restraint
in the front
seat where
you can keep an eye on the baby.
Wherever
you install it, be sure to secure the child
restraint properly.
CAUTION:
An unsecured child restraint can move around in
a collision or sudden stop and injure people in
the vehicle. Be sure to properly secure any child resfraint in your vehicle
-- even when no child is
I in
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Top Strap
If your child restraint has a top strap, it should be
anchored. If
you need to have an anchor installed, you can ask
your Buick dealer to put it in for you.
If you want to
install an anchor yourself, your dealer can tell you how
to do it.
Vehicles first sold in Canada have child restraint anchor
bracket hardware in the glove box, along with
instructions for installing it. This should be used only
with a child restraint, and only to secure a child restraint
at a rear seating position. Additional anchor brackets for
child restraints at the rear seating positions are available
at Buick dealerships in Canada.
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Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear
Outside Position
U
You’ll be using the lap-shoulder belt. See the earlier
section about
the top strap if the child restraint has one.
1. Put the restraint on the seat. Follow the instructions
for the child restraint.
2. Secure the child in the child restraint as the
instructions say.
3. Pull out the vehicle’s safety belt and run the lap part
through or around the restraint. The child restraint
instructions will show
you how. Tilt the latch plate to
adjust the belt if needed. See
if
the shoulder belt would go in front of the
child’s face or neck. If so, put it behind the child
restraint.
4. Buckle the belt. Make sure the release button faces
upward or outward,
so you’ll be able to unbuckle it
quickly
if you ever need to.
A
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5. To tighten the belt, pull up on the shoulder belt while
you push down on the child restraint.
-I ..
- I' ..
.. il
6. Push and pull the child restraint in different
directions
to be sure it is secure.
To remove the child restraint, just unbuckle the vehicle's
safety belt and let it go back all the way. The safety belt
will move freely again and be ready to work for an adult
or larger child passenger.
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Securing a Child Restraint in a Center Seat
Position 1. Make the belt as long as possible by tilting the latch
plate and pulling it along the belt.
U
When you secure a child restraint in a center seating
position, you'll be using the lap belt.
See the earlier section about
the top strap if the child
restraint has one.


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