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or the instrument panel ... 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
safety belts make such good sense.
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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 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.
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.
If I’m a good driver, and I never drive far from
home, why should I wear safety belts?
A: 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 dhver
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.
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How to Wear Safety Belts Properly
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 Pontiac, 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.
Driver Position
This part describes the driver’s restraint system.
Was your Pontiac first sold, when new, in Canada? (If it
was, a sticker on the driver’s door will say “conforms to
all applicable Canada motor vehicle
. . . ” etc.) If so,
then this “Driver Position” part doesn’t apply to your
vehicle. To learn how to use your driver position safety
belts, read the
Canadian Owner’s Manual Safety Belt
Supplement.
It comes with every new Pontiac first sold
in Canada.
Automatic Lap-Shoulder Belt
This safety belt is called “automatic” because you don’t
have to buckle
up when you get into your vehicle.
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And you don’t have to unbuckle when you get out.
Just get into your vehicle. Then close and lock the door.
Adjust the seat (to see how, see “Seats’’ in the Index)
so
you can sit up straight.
The lap belt should be worn as low on the hips as
possible. 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.
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It’s possible that an automatic belt could keep you from
fully opening a door. That can happen
if the door was
slammed shut very hard. Just close the door all the way,
then slowly open it.
If that doesn’t fix it, then your
Pontiac needs service.
We hope you’ll always keep your automatic belt
buckled. However, you may need to unbuckle it in an
emergency.
To unbuckle the automatic belt, just push the
button
on the buckle.
To reattach the automatic belt:
1. Close and lock the door.
2. Adjust the seat (to see how, see “Seats” in the Index)
so you can sit up straight.
- I
3. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you.
Don’t let it get twisted.
4. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.
Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure.
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@ What’s wrong with this?
L
A: The shoulder belt is too loose. It won’t give nearly
as much protection this way.
i‘
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Q: What’s wrong with this?
I
I
A: The belt is buckled in the wrong place.
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&: What's wrong with this?
I
A: The shoulder belt is worn under the arm. It should
be worn over the shoulder at all times.
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