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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 specid things to know about
safety belts and children. And there are different des
for smaller children and babies. If a child will be riding
in your Pontiac, see the part of this manual called
“Childrin.’’ Follow those rules
for everyone’s
protection.
’
First, you’ll want to know which restrakt systems your
vehicle has.
We’ll
start with the driver position.
,
Driver Position
This part describes the drives’s restraint system.
Lap-Shoulder Belt
The driver has a lap-shoulder belt. Here’s how to wear it
properly.
1. Close and lock the door.
2. Adjust the seat (to see how, see “Seats” in the Index)
so you can sit up straight.
3. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you.
4. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.
Don’t let it get twisted.
, .(’.
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If the belt stops before it reachqs the buckle, tilt the latch 5. To make the lap part tight, pull down on the buckle
plate
and keep pulling until you can buckle the belt. end of the belt as you pull up on the shoulder b’elt.
Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure.
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 is positioned
so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly
if
you ever had to.
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L
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 shng 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. Thlese
parts
of the body are best able to take belt restraining
forces.
The
safety belt locks if there's a sudden stop or crash.
.: .
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I
Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster (&Door Models) To move it down, squeeze the release button and move
Before
you begin to drive, move the shoulder belt
adjuster to the height that is right for you. the adjuster to the desired position.
You can move the
adjuster up just by pushing up on the shoulder belt
guide. After you move the adjuster to where you want it,
try to move it down without squeezing the release button
to make sure it has locked into position.
Adjust the height
so that the shoulder portion of the belt
is centered on your shoulder. The belt should be away
from your face and neck, but not falling off your
sh'oulder.
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@ What's wrong with this?
A: The shoulder belt is too loge. It won't give nearly
as much protection this way.
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.
,. I% .. I
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&.’ What’s wrong with this?
A: The belt is buckled in the wrong place.
-.
’f
A CAUTION: -1
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 beat into the buckle nearest
you.
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I
A: The shoulder belt is worn under the arrn. It should
.. be worn over the shoulder at all times.
You can b me seriously injured if you wear th
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
woulld 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.
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@ What's wrong with this?
You can be seriously injured by a twisted belt. In
a crash, you wouldn't have the full width of the
belt to spread impact forces. If
a belt is twisted,
make it straight
so it can work properly, or ask
your dealer
to fix it.
I
A: The belt is twisted across the body.
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