1997 CHEVROLET S10 Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine The person keeps going until stopped by somethinq.
In a real vehicle, it could be the windshield ...
or the instrument panel ...

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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.
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.
@ If my vehicle has air bags, why should I have to
A: Air bags are in many vehicles today and will be in
most
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 ifyou’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.
wear safety belts?

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If I?rn a good driver, and I never drive far from
hame, 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
passefigers can be hurt. Being a: gciod.driver
, d9esn”t prqtect you. from things beyond your
cantrd, such mbad drivem
Most accidents
occur within 25 miles (40 km) of
home. And the g:reatest number of serious injuries
and deaths occur
at speeds of less than 40 mph
(65 Wh).
Ho.w 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 ridag:
.in your vehicle,
see the part of this: m,anual called
“Children.” Follow those
rules for everyone’s protection.
First, you’ll
want to know which restraint systems your
vehde- has:.
We’ll
start with the driver positioa. Safety b.elts are for everyone.
Driver Position
This partdescribes the driver’s restraint system.
Lap-Sho.uld.er. B.elt
‘The driver has a lap-should€ - relt, Her( ho.w to wear
it properly.
I.. Close and lock the door.
2. Adjust the seat (to see how, see ‘Seats” in the Index)
so you c.an sit up straight.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 3. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you.
Don’t let it get twisted.
5. -To make the lap parttight, p-ull down on the buckle
end
of the belt as you pull up on the shoulder belt.
4. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.
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.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine The lap p'art of-the belt should be worn l~w ad snug on
the hips, just touching the. thighs.. In a crash, this appJies
force to the sbong pelvic bones. And you'd be less
likely to slide under the lap belt. .E you did under it, the
belt wonld applyforce ;at your -abdomen. This could
cause S~I'~QIJS or even €atd injuries. The shoulder belt
should go over the shoulder and ac$oss the chest.
These parts of the body Be best able to take belt
restraining forces.
The sa€ety belt locks if there% :a. sudden stop or a crash.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Q: What’s wrong with this?
You can be seriously hurt if your shoulder belt is
to.0 1oo.se.
In .a crash, you would move-forward
too much, which could increase injury. The
shoulder belt .sho.uld
fit agziinst your body.
A: The shoulder belt is too loose. 1t.won’t give maily
as much protection this way.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine What's wrong with this?
A: The belt is, buckled in the wrong place..
You can be seriously injured if your belt-is
buckled
in the wrong pIace like this. In a crash,-
the
b.elt would go up over- your abdomen, The
belt.forces would be there, not at the pelv'ic
bones. This
could .cause serious intern-a1 injuries.
Always buckle your belt into the buckle
nearest you.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Q: What’s wrong with this?
I J L
You can be seriously injured if you wear the
.shoulder belt under
your arm. In a crash, yo.ur’
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 gans
like your liver or sdeen.
I ~ ~~~~~~~
A: The shoulder belt is worn under the arm. It should
be worn over the shoulder at all. times.
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