1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Owner's Manuals

The safety belt locks if there's a sudden stop or a crash,
or if you pull the belt very quickly out of
the retractor.
-
A CAUTION:
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 against your body.
:
To unlatch the belt, just push the button on the buckle.
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Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides
for Children and Small Adults
(&Door Models)
Four-door models may have rear shoulder belt comfort
guides. This feature will provide added safety belt
comfort for children who have outgrown child restraints
and for small adults. When installed on a shoulder belt,
the comfort guide pulls
the belt away from the neck
and head.
There is one guide for each outside passenger position in
the rear seat.
To provide added safety belt comfort for
children who have outgrown child restraints and for
smaller adults, the comfort guides may be installed on
the shoulder belts. Here's how to 'install a comfort guide
and use the safety belt:
1. Pull the elastic cord out from between the edge of
the'seatback and the interior body to remove the
guide from its storage clip.
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2. Slide the guide under and past the belt. The elastic
cord must be under the belt. Then, place the guide
over the belt, and insert the two edges
of the belt into
the slots
of the guide.
3. Be sure that the belt is not twisted and it lies flat.
The elastic cord must be under the belt and the guide
on top.
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II
4. Buckle, position and release the safety belt as
described
in “Rear Seat Outside Passenger Positions
’ (4-Door Models)” earlier in this section. Make sure
that the shoulder belt crosses the shoulder.
To remove and store the comfort guides, just perform
these steps in reverse order. Squeeze the belt edges
together
so that you can take them out from the guides.
Pull the guide upward to expose its storage clip, and
then slide the guide onto the clip. Rotate the guide and
clip inward and in between the seatback and the interior
body, leaving only the loop
of elastic cord exposed.
Children
Everyone in a vehicle needs protection! That includes
infants and
all children smaller than adult size. In fact,
the law in every state in the United States and in every Canadian province says children up to some age must be.
restrained while in a vehicle.
Smaller Children and Babies
Smaller children and babies should always 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
child’s abdomen. In
a crash, the belt would apply
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 properly
restrained in
a child or infant restraint.
1-36

' A CAUTION:
-
Never hold a baby in your arms while riding in a
vehicle. A baby doesn't weigh much -- until a
crash. During a crash a baby will become so
CAUTION: (Continued) CAUTION: (Continued)
heavy you can't hold
it. For example, in a crash
at only 25 mph (40 km/h), a 12-lb. (5.5 kg) baby
will suddenly become
a 240-lb. (110 kg) force on
your arms. The baby would be almost impossible
to hold.
Secure the baby in an infant restraint.
I
1-37

Child Restraints
Be sure the child restraint is designed to be used in a
vehicle.
If it is, it will have a label saying that it meets
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
Then 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.
Never put a rear-facing
child restraint in the front passenger seat. Here's why:
A CAUTlJN:
A child in a rearfacing child restraint can be
seriously injured
if the right front passenger's
air bag inflates. This is because the back of a
rearfacing child restraint would be very close to
the inflating air bag. Always secure a rearfacing
child restraint in the rear seat.
You may, however, secure
a forward-facing child
restraint in the right front seat. Before you secure
a forward-facing child restraint, always move the
front passenger seat as
far back as it will go. Or,
secure the child restraint in the rear seat.
!
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.., . ,. -.- ,I . . ... '.,. . -. " .. , . .. .-

I For cars first sold in Canada, child restraints with a top
strap must be anchored according to Canadian law.
I
Your retailer can obtain the hardware kit and install it
for you, or you may install it yourself using the
instructions provided in the kit.
Use the tether hardware kit available from the retailer.
The hardware and installation instructions were
specifically designed for this vehicle.
~ Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear
Outside Seat Position (2-Door
Models)
U
If you have a four-door model, see “Securing a Child
Restraint in a Rear Outside Seat Position @-Door
Models)” later in this section.
I
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.
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.