1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass Owner's Manuals

Head Restraints
Slide the head restraint up or down so that the top of the
.re&@$ is closwt to the top of your ears. This position
ieducei the chance
of a neck injury in a crash.
Rear Seats
Folding Rear Seat
1-5

To open the folding rear seat, open the trunk and pull
one or both
of the tethers located on the left side of the
trunk. The left-hand tether will open the larger side of
the seatback. The right-hand tether will open the smaller
side
of the seatback. Once a tether is pulled, the seatback
can be pushed open through the
tru& or pulled open
from inside the- vehicle.
To close the split folding rear seat, push the seatback up
until
you hear a click. Then pull on the seatback to make
sure it is secure.
Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone
This part of the manual tells you how to use safety belts
properly. It also tells you some things you
should not do
with safety belts.
And it explains the Supplemental Restraint System
(SRS), or
air bag system.
Don’t let anyone ride where he or she can’t wear
a safety belt properly. If you are in a crash and
you’re
not wearing a safety belt, your injuries
can be much worse. You can hit things inside the
vehicle or be ejected from it. You can be seriously
injured or killed.
In the same crash, you might
not be if you are buckled up. Always fasten your
safety belt, and check that your passengers’ belts
are fastened properly
too.
1-6

Your vehicle has a light
that comes on as a reminder
to buckle up. (See “Safety
Belt Reminder Light’’ in
the Index.)
L
4 r,
‘I
In most stales .and Canadian provinces, the law says to
wear safety belts. Here’s why:
They work.
You never know if you’ll be in a crash. Lf you do have a
crash, you don’t know if it will be a bad one.
A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be so
serious that even buckled up a person wouldn’t survive.
But most crashes are in between. In many of them,
people who buckle up can survive and sometimes walk
away. Without belts they could have been badly hurt
or killed.
After more than
30 years of safety belts in vehicles,
the facts
are clear. In most crashes buckling up does
matter
... a lot!
1-7

Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose it’s just a seat
on wheels.
Put someone on it.
1-s

I
I
I
Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle. The rider
doesn't stop. The person keeps going until stopped by something.
In a
real vehicle, it could be the windshield ...
1-9

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 mare distmce,
and your strongest bones take the forces. That's~why
safety belts make such good sense.
1-10

@’ If I’m a good driver, and I never drive far from
A: You may be an excellent driver, but if you’re in an
home, why should I wear safety belts?
accident -- even 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 km/h).
Safety belts are for everyone.
-1
1-11

How to Wear Safety Belts Properly
Adults
This part is only €or 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.
Driver Position
This part describes the driver’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.
Don’t let it get twisted.
The shoulder belt may lock
if you pull the belt across
you very quickly.
If this happens, let the belt go back
slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt across you
more slowly.
4. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.