2000 HONDA ACCORD SEDAN child seat

Drive
r an d Passenge r Safet y

Thi s sectio n give s yo u importan t

informatio n abou t ho w to protec t

yoursel f an d you r passengers . I t

show s yo u ho w to us e sea t belt s

properly . I t explains your Supple -

menta l Restrain t System . An d it tell s

yo u ho w to properl y restrai n infant s

an d childre n in you r car .
Importan t Safet y Precaution s ......... . 6
You r Car' s Safet y Features............. . 7

Sea t Belts....................................... . 8

Airbags........................................... . 9

Seat s & Seat-Backs..................... . 1 0
Hea d Restraints.......................... . 1 0
Doo r Locks.................................. . 1 0
Pre-Driv e Safet y
Checklist........
. 1 1

Protectin g Adults............................. 12

1 . Clos e an d Loc k th e Doors..... . 1 2
2 . Adjus t th e Fron t Seats........... . 1 2
3
. Adjus t th e Seat-Backs............ . 1 3

4 . Adjus t th e Hea d Restraints... . 1 4

5 . Faste n an d Positio n th e Sea t

Belts..................................... . 1 4

6 . Adjus t th e Steerin g Wheel.... . 1 6

7 . Maintai n a Prope r Sittin g

Position................................ . 1 6
Advic e fo r Pregnan t Women..... . 1 7
Additiona l Safet y Precautions... . 1 8
Protectin g Children........................ . 1 9
Al l Childre n Mus t B e
Restrained............................... . 1 9
Childre n Shoul d Si t i n th e Bac k

Seat........................................... . 2 0

Th e Passenger' s Fron t Airba g
Pose s Seriou s Risk s t o
Children............................... . 2 0
I f Yo u Mus t Driv e wit h Severa l
Children................................... . 2 2
I f a Chil d Require s Clos e
Attention.................................. . 2 2
Additiona l Safet y Precautions... . 2 2
Genera l Guideline s fo r Usin g
Chil d Seats............................... . 2 3
Protectin g Infants....................... . 2 7
Protectin g Smal l Children......... . 3 1 Protectin
g Large r Children....... . 3 4
Usin g Chil d Seat s wit h

Tethers..................................... . 3 7

Additiona l Informatio n Abou t You r

Sea t Belts................................. . 3 9

Sea t Bel t Syste m Components.. . 3 9
Lap/Shoulde r Belt...................... . 3 9
Sea t Bel t Maintenance............... . 4 0
Additiona l Informatio n Abou t
You r Fron t Airbags................ . 4 1
SR S Components........................ . 4 1
Ho w You r Fron t Airbag s

Work......................................... . 4 1

Ho w th e SR S Indicato r Ligh t

Works....................................... . 4 3

Additiona l Informatio n Abou t

You r Sid e Airbags................... . 4 4

Ho w You r Sid e Airbag s Work... . 4 4

Ho w Th e Sid e Airba g Indicato r

Ligh t Works............................ . 4 5

Additiona l Informatio n Abou t

You r Airbags........................... . 4 6
Airba g Service............................. . 4 6

Additiona l Safet y Precautions... . 4 6

Carbo n Monoxid e Hazard............. . 4 7

Safet y Labels................................... . 4 8

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Importan
t Safet y Precaution s

You'l l fin d man y safet y
recommendation s throughou t thi s
section , an d throughou t thi s manual .
Th e recommendation s o n thi s pag e
ar e th e one s w e conside r t o b e th e
mos t important .
Alway s Wea r You r Sea t Bel t
A sea t bel t i s you r bes t protectio n in
al l type s o f collisions . Airbag s
supplemen t sea t belts , bu t airbag s
ar e designe d to inflat e onl y in a
moderat e to sever e fronta l collision .
S o eve n thoug h you r ca r i s equippe d
wit h airbags , mak e sur e yo u an d
you r passenger s alway s wea r you r
sea t belts , an d wea r the m properly .
(Se e pag e 14 .)
Restrai n Al l Childre n
Childre n ar e safes t whe n the y ar e
properl y restraine d in th e bac k seat ,
no t th e fron t seat . A chil d wh o is to o
smal l fo r a sea t bel t mus t b e properl y
restraine d in a chil d safet y seat . (Se e
pag e 19 .) B
e Awar e o f Airba g Hazard s
Whil e airbag s ca n sav e lives , the y
ca n caus e seriou s o r fata l injurie s t o
occupant s wh o si t to o clos e t o them ,
o r ar e no t properl y restrained .
Infants , youn g children , an d shor t
adult s ar e a t th e greates t risk . B e
sur e t o follo w al l instruction s an d
warning s i n thi s manual . (Se e pag e
7 .)

Don' t Drin k an d Driv e

Alcoho l an d drivin g don' t mix . Eve n
on e drin k ca n reduc e you r abilit y t o
respon d t o changin g conditions , an d
you r reactio n tim e get s wors e wit h
ever y additiona l drink . S o don' t drin k
an d drive , an d don' t le t you r friend s
drin k an d drive , either . Contro
l You r Spee d
Excessiv e spee d is a majo r facto r i n
cras h injurie s an d deaths . Generally ,
th e highe r th e spee d th e greate r th e
risk , bu t seriou s accident s ca n als o
occu r a t lowe r speeds . Neve r driv e
faste r tha n is saf e fo r curren t
conditions , regardles s o f th e
maximu m spee d posted .
Kee p You r Ca r i n Saf e Conditio n
Havin g a tir e blowou t o r a
mechanica l failur e ca n b e extremel y
hazardous . T o reduc e th e possibilit y
o f suc h problems , chec k you r tir e
pressure s an d conditio n frequently ,
an d perfor m al l regularl y schedule d
maintenance . (Se e pag e 198 .)

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

You
r Car' s Safet y Feature s

Sea t Belt s
Fo r you r safety , an d th e safet y o f
you r passengers , you r ca r i s
equippe d wit h sea t belt s i n al l seating
positions .
You r sea t bel t syste m als o
include s a ligh t o n th e
instrumen t pane l t o remin d yo u an d
you r passenger s t o faste n you r sea t
belts .
Why Wear Seat Belts
Sea t belt s ar e th e singl e mos t
effectiv e safet y devic e fo r adult s an d
large r children . (Infant s an d smalle r
childre n mus t b e properl y restraine d
i n chil d seats. )
No t wearin g a sea t bel t properl y
increase s th e chanc e o f seriou s
injur y o r deat h in a crash , eve n
thoug h you r ca r ha s airbags .
I
n addition , mos t state s an d al l

Canadia n province s requir e yo u to

wea r sea t belts .

Whe n properl y worn , sea t belts : Kee
p yo u connecte d t o th e vehicl e
s o yo u ca n tak e advantag e o f th e
vehicle' s built-i n safet y features . Hel
p protec t yo u in almos t ever y
typ e o f crash , includin g frontal ,
side , an d rea r impact s an d
rollovers .
Hel
p kee p yo u fro m bein g throw n

agains t th e insid e o f th e vehicl e

an d agains t othe r occupants .
Kee
p yo u fro m bein g throw n ou t

o f th e vehicle .
Hel
p kee p yo u in a goo d positio n

shoul d th e airbag s eve r deploy . A

goo d positio n reduce s th e ris k o f

injur y fro m a n inflatin g airbag , an d

allow s yo u to ge t th e bes t

advantag e fro m th e airbag .

O f course , sea t belt s canno t

completel y protec t yo u in ever y

crash . Bu t i n mos t cases , sea t belt s

ca n reduc e you r ris k o f seriou s

injury .

What you should do: Always wea r

you r sea t belt , an d mak e sur e yo u

wea r i t properly .

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y
No
t wearin g a sea t bel t properl y
increase s th e chanc e o f seriou s
injur y o r deat h i n a crash , eve n
i f yo u hav e airbags .
B e sur e yo u an d you r
passenger s alway s wea r sea t
belt s an d wea r the m properly .

You
r Car' s Safet y Feature s

Pre-Driv e Safet y Checklis t

T o mak e sur e yo u an d you r
passenger s ge t th e maximu m
protectio n fro m you r car' s safet y
features , chec k th e followin g eac h
tim e befor e yo u driv e away : Al
l adults , an d childre n wh o hav e
outgrow n chil d safet y seats , ar e
wearin g thei r sea t belt s an d
wearin g the m properl y (se e pag e
14 ).
An
y infan t o r smal l chil d is

properl y restraine d in a chil d sea t
i n th e bac k sea t (se e pag e 19 ). Fron
t sea t occupant s ar e sittin g
uprigh t an d a s fa r bac k a s possibl e
fro m th e steerin g whee l an d
dashboar d (se e pag e 1 2 ) . Seat-back
s ar e uprigh t (se e pag e
13 ).
Hea
d restraint s ar e properl y

adjuste d (se e page 1 4 ) . Al
l door s ar e close d an d locke d
(se e pag e 1 2 ). Al
l carg o i s properl y store d o r
secure d (se e pag e 166 ). Th
e res t o f thi s sectio n give s mor e
detaile d informatio n abou t ho w yo u
ca n maximiz e you r safety .
Remember , however , tha t n o safet y
syste m ca n preven t al l injurie s o r
death s tha t ca n occu r i n sever e
crashes , eve n whe n sea t belt s ar e
properl y wor n an d th e airbag s deploy .

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Protectin
g Adult s

Introductio n
Th e followin g page s provid e
instruction s o n ho w to properl y
protec t th e drive r an d othe r adul t

occupants .

Thes e instruction s als o appl y t o
childre n wh o hav e outgrow n chil d
seat s an d ar e larg e enoug h to wea r
lap/shoulde r belts . (Se e page 3 4 fo r
importan t additiona l guideline s o n
ho w to properl y protec t large r
children. )

1 .Clos e an d Loc k th e Door s

Afte r everyon e ha s entere d th e car ,
b e sur e th e door s ar e close d an d

locked .
You
r ca r ha s a doo r monito r ligh t o n
th e instrumen t pane l t o indicat e
whe n a specifi c doo r i s no t tightl y

closed .

Fo r safety , lockin g th e door s reduce s
th e chanc e tha t a passenger ,
especiall y a child , wil l ope n a doo r
whil e th e ca r i s movin g an d
accidentall y fal l out . I t als o reduce s
th e chanc e o f someon e bein g throw n
ou t o f th e ca r durin g a crash .
Fo r security , locke d door s ca n
preven t a n outside r fro m
unexpectedl y openin g a doo r whe n
yo u com e to a stop .
Se e pag e 7 2 fo r ho w to loc k th e

doors .
2.Adjus
t th e Fron t Seat s
An y drive r wh o sit s to o clos e t o th e
steerin g whee l i s a t ris k o f bein g
seriousl y injure d o r kille d b y strikin g
th e steerin g whee l o r fro m bein g
struc k b y a n inflatin g fron t airba g
durin g a crash .

Drive r and Passenge r Safet y

Protectin
g Adult s

Remember , t o ge t th e bes t
protectio n fro m you r car' s airbag s
an d othe r safet y features , yo u mus t
si t properl y an d wea r you r sea t bel t
properly . Advic
e fo r Pregnan t Wome n
Becaus e protectin g th e mothe r i s th e
bes t wa y t o protec t he r unbor n child ,
a pregnan t woma n shoul d alway s
wea r a sea t bel t wheneve r sh e drive s
o r ride s i n a vehicle .
Remembe r t o kee p th e la p portio n o f
th e bel t a s lo w a s possibl e acros s
you r hips . Pregnan
t wome n shoul d als o si t
uprigh t an d a s fa r bac k a s possibl e
fro m th e steerin g whee l o r
dashboard . Thi s wil l reduc e th e ris k
o f injurie s t o bot h th e mothe r an d
he r unbor n chil d tha t ca n b e cause d
b y a cras h o r a n inflatin g airbag .
Eac h tim e yo u hav e a check-up , as k
you r docto r i f it' s oka y fo r yo u t o

drive .

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Sittin
g improperl y o r ou t o f
positio n ca n resul t i n seriou s
injur y o r deat h in a crash .
Alway s si t upright , wel l bac k i n
th e seat , wit h you r fee t o n th e

floor .

Protectin
g Childre n
Childre n depen d o n adult s t o protec t
them . However , despit e thei r bes t
intentions , man y parent s an d othe r
adult s ma y no t kno w ho w to properly
protec t youn g passengers .
S o if yo u hav e children , o r i f yo u eve r
nee d to driv e wit h a grandchil d o r
othe r childre n in you r car , b e sur e t o
rea d thi s section . Al
l Childre n Mus t B e Restraine d
Eac h year , man y childre n ar e injure d
or kille d in vehicl e crashe s becaus e
the y ar e eithe r unrestraine d o r no t
properl y restrained . I n fact , vehicl e
accident s ar e th e numbe r on e caus e
o f deat h o f childre n age s 1 2 an d
under .
T o reduc e th e numbe r o f chil d
death s an d injuries , ever y stat e an d
Canadia n provinc e require s tha t
infant s an d childre n b e restraine d
wheneve r the y rid e i n a vehicle .

Any child who is too small to wear a

seat belt should be properly

restrained in a child seat. (See pag e

23.)
A larger
child
should always be
restrained with a seat belt. (See page
34 .)

Drive r an d
Passenge
r Safet y

Childre
n wh o ar e unrestraine d
o r improperl y restraine d ca n b e
seriousl y injure d o r kille d in a
crash .
An y chil d to o smal l fo r a sea t
bel t shoul d b e properl y
restraine d in a chil d seat . A
large r chil d shoul d b e properl y
restraine d wit h a sea t belt .

Protectin
g Childre n

Childre n Shoul d Si t i n th e Bac k

Sea t

Accordin g t o acciden t statistics ,
childre n o f al l age s an d size s ar e
safe r whe n the y ar e restraine d in th e
bac k seat , no t th e fron t seat . Th e
Nationa l Highwa y Traffi c Safet y
Administratio n an d Transpor t
Canad a recommen d tha t al l childre n
age s 1 2 an d unde r b e properl y
restraine d in th e bac k seat .
I n th e bac k seat , childre n ar e les s
likel y t o b e injure d b y strikin g har d
interio r parts durin g a collisio n o r
har d braking . Also , childre n canno t
b e injure d b y a n inflatin g airba g
whe n the y rid e in th e back . Th
e Passenger' s Fron t Airba g
Pose s Seriou s Risk s t o Childre n
Fron t airbag s hav e bee n designe d to
hel p protec t adult s in a moderat e to
sever e fronta l collision . T o d o this ,
th e passenger' s fron t airba g is quit e
large , an d it inflate s wit h tremendou s

speed .

Infants
Never put a rear-facing child seat in
the front seat of a vehicle equipped
with a passenger's front airbag. If

the airba g
inflates
, i t ca n hi t th e bac k

o f th e chil d sea t wit h enoug h forc e

t o kil l o r ver y seriousl y injur e a n

infant .
Small
Children
Placing a forward-facing child seat in
the front seat of a vehicle equipped
with a passenger's front airbag can
b e hazardous.
I f th e vehicl e sea t i s
to o fa r
forward
, o r th e child' s hea d is
throw n forwar d durin g a collision , a n
inflatin g fron t airba g ca n strik e th e
chil d wit h enoug h forc e t o kil l o r
ver y seriousl y injur e a smal l child .
Larger Children
Children who have outgrown child
seats are also at risk of being injured
or killed by an inflating passenger's
front airbag.
Wheneve r possible ,
large r childre n
shoul
d si t i n th e bac k
seat , properl y restraine d wit h a sea t
belt . (Se e pag e 3 4 fo r importan t
informatio n abou t protectin g large r
children. )
Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y