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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Here Are Questions Many People Ask About
Safety Belts
- and the Answers
Q: Won’t I be trapped in the vehicle after an accident if I’m wearing a
A: You could be - whether you’re wearing a safety belt or not. But you
can unbuckle a safety belt, even if you’re upside down. And your
chance of being conscious during and after
an accident, so you can
unbuckle and get out, is much greater if you are belted.
safety belt?
t Why don ’t they just put in air bags so people won ’t have to wear
safety belts?
A: Air bags are in many 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 most protection.
That’s true
not only in frontal collisions, but especially in side and
other collisions.
Q: If I’m a good driver, and I never drive far from home, why should I
A: You may be an excellent driver, but if you’re in an accident - even
wear safety belts?
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 kmk).
Safety belts are for everyone.
How to Wear Safety Belts Proper/y
Adults
This part is only for people of adult size.
Be aware that there are special things to know about safety belts
and
children. And there are different rules for smaller children and babies. If a
child will be riding in your vehicle, see the part of this manual called
“Children.” Follow those rules for everyone’s protection.
First, you’ll want to know which restraint systems your vehicle has.
We’ll start with the driver position.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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.
Keep in mind that 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 restraint in your vehicle
- even when no child is in it.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 GM dealer to put it in for you. If
you want to install an anchor yourself, your dealer can tell you how to do it.
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Outside Seat
Position
You’ll be using the lap-shoulder belt. See the earlier part 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.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 3. Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulder portions of the
vehicle’s safety belt through or around the restraint. The child restraint
instructions will show you how. Tilt the latch plate to adjust the belt if
needed. If the shoulder belt goes in front of the child’s face or neck, put
it behind the child restraint.
4. Buckle the belt.
Make sure the
release button is
positioned
so you
would be able to
unbuckle the safety belt
quickly if you
ever had to.
5. To tighten the
belt, pull up on
the shoulder belt
while you push
down on the child
restraint.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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.
Securing a Child Restraint in a Center Seat Position
You’ll be using the lap belt.
See the earlier part about the top strap if the child restraint has one.
2. Put the restraint on the seat. Follow the instructions for the child
restraint.
3. Secure the child in the child restraint as the instructions say.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 4. Run the vehicle’s safety belt through or around the restraint. The child
restraint instructions will show
you how.
5. Buckle the belt.
Make sure the
release button is
positioned
so you
would be able to
unbuckle the
safety belt
quickly if you
ever had to.
6. To tighten the belt, pull its free end while you push down on the child
restraint.
7. Push and pull the child restraint in different directions to be sure it is
secure.
If the child restraint isn’t secure, turn the latch plate over and
buckle it again. Then see if it is secure. If it isn’t, secure the restraint in
a different place in the vehicle and contact the child restraint maker for
their advice about how to attach
the child restraint properly.
To remove the child restraint, just unbuckle the vehicle’s safety belt. It will
be ready to work for
an adult or larger child passenger.
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat
Position
You’ll be using the lap-shoulder belt. See the earlier part about the top strap
if the child restraint has one.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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. Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulder portions of the
vehicle’s safety belt through or around the restraint. The child restraint
instructions will show
you how.
If the shoulder belt goes in front of the child’s face or neck, put it
behind the child restraint.
4. Buckle the belt.
Make sure the release button is positioned
so you would be able to
unbuckle the safety belt quickly if
you ever had to.
5. Pull the rest of
the lap belt all the
way out of the
retractor to set
the lock.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 6. To tighten the
belt, feed the lap
belt back into the
retractor while
you push down
on the child
restraint.
7. 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.
Larger Children
Children who have outgrown child restraints should wear the vehicle’s
safety belts.
If you have the choice, a child should sit next to a window so the child can
wear a lap-shoulder belt and get the additional restraint
a shoulder belt can
provide.
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