1993 BUICK RIVIERA Owners Manual

The person keeps going until stopped by something.
In
a real vehicle, it could be the windshield ...
or the instrument panel ...
23

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or the safety belts!
With safety belts, you slow down as the vehicle does.
You get more time to stop. You stop over more distance,
and your strongest bones take the forces. That’s why safetv belts make such good sense.
Here Are Questions Many People Ask
About Safety Belts -- and the
Answers
@ Won’t I be trapped in the vehicle after an
accident if
I’m wearing a safety belt?
A: You could be -- whether you’re wearing a safety
belt or not. But you can easily unbuckle
a safety
belt, even if you’re upside down. And your chance
of being conscious during and after an accident, so
you unbuckle and get out, is much greater if
you are belted.
@ Why don’t they just put in air bags so people
A: “Air bags,” or Supplemental Inflatable Restraint
won’t have to wear safety belts?
systems, are in some vehicles today and will be in
more of them in the future. But they are
supplemental systems only
-- so they work with
safety belts, not instead
of them. Every “air bag”
system ever offered for sale has required the use of
safety belts. Even
if you’re in a vehicle that has. “
air bags,” you still have to buckle up to get the

Q=
A:
most protection. That’s true not only in frontal
collisions, but especially
in side and other
collisions.
If I’m a good driver, and I never drive far from
home, why should I wear safety belts?
You may be an excellent driver, but if you’re in an
accident
-- even one that isn’t your fault -- you and
your passengers can be hurt. Being a good driver
doesn’t protect you from things beyond your control, such as bad drivers.
Most accidents occur within
25 miles (40 km) of
home. And the greatest .number of serious
injuries and deaths occur at speeds of less than
40 mph (65 km/h).
Safety belts are for everyone.
Safety Belt Reminder Light
When’the key is turned to “Run” or “Start,” a light will
come
on for about eight seconds to remind people to
fasten their safety belts. Unless the driver’s safety belt
is
buckled, a chime will also sound.
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Lap-Shoulder Belt
3.
The driver has a lap-shoulder belt. Here’s how to wear it
properly.
1. Close and lock the door.
4.
2. Adjust the seat (to see how, see “Seats” in the Index)
so you can sit up straight. Pick
up the latch plate and pull the belt across you.
Don’t let it get twisted.
Push the latch plate into the buckle until
it clicks.
If the belt isn’t long enough, see ‘;Safety Belt
Extender” at the end of this section.
Make sure the release button on the buckle faces upward or outward
so you would be able to unbuckle
it quickly
if you ever had to.
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&C What’s wrong with this?
n n
I A CAUTION:
The safety belt locks if there’s a sudden stop or crash.
The lap part Of the
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.
be worn low and snug On A: The shoulder belt is too loose. It won’t give nearly
You can be seriously hurt if your shoulder belt
is too loose. In a crash you would move forward
too much, which could increase injury. The
shoulder belt should fit againsi Bur body.
I
28 I

@ What’s wrong with this?
n
I
A: The belt is buckled in the wrong place.
A CAUTION:
You can be seriously injured if your belt is
buckled
in the wrong place like this. In a crash,
the belt would
go up over your abdomen. The
belt forces would be there, not at the pelvic
bones. This could cause serious internal
injuries. Always buckle your belt into the buckle
nearest you.
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29

@ What’s wrong with this? I
* The shoulder belt is worn under the arm. It should
be worn over the shoulder
at all times.
A CAUTION:
You can be seriously injured if you wear the
shoulder belt under your arm.
In a crash, your
body would move too far forward, which would
increase the chance of head and neck injury.
Also, the belt would apply too much force to the
ribs, which aren’t as strong as shoulder bones.
You could also severely injure internal organs
like your liver or spleen.
I
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