2001 HONDA PASSPORT airbag

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
yo u an d you r passengers . I t show s
ho w to us e sea t belt s properly . I t
explain s th e Supplementa 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 vehicle .
Importan t Safet y Precaution s . . 4
You r Vehicle' s Safet y Feature s 5

Sea t Belt s .............. . 6

Airbag s ............... . 7

Seat s an d Seat-Back s ..... . 8
Hea d Restraint s ......... . 8

Doo r Lock s ............ . 9

Pre-Driv e Safet y Checklis t . 9

Protectin g Adult s ......... . 1 0

1 . Clos e an d Loc k th e Door s 1 0
2 . Adjus t th e Fron t Seat s . . 1 0
3 . Adjus t th e Seat-Back s . . 1 1
4 . Adjust the Head Restraints 125
. Faste n an d Positio n
th e Sea t Belt s ........ . 1 3
6 . Adjus t th e Steerin g Whee l 1 5
7 . Maintai n a Prope r
Sittin g Positio n ...... . 1 6
Advic e fo r Pregnan t Wome n 1 6
Additional Safety Precautions
17

Protectin g Childre n ....... . 18
Al l
Childre
n Mus t
B e Restraine d ......... . 1 8
Childre n Shoul d Si t i n
th e Bac k Sea t ......... . 1 9
Th e Passenger' s Airba g Pose s
Seriou s Risk s t o Childre n 1 9
I f Yo u Mus t Driv e Wit h
Severa l Childre n ...... . 2 0
I f a Chil d Require s
Clos e Attentio n ....... . 2 1
Additiona l Safet y Precaution s 2 1
Genera l Guideline s fo r
Usin g Chil d Seat s ..... . 2 1
Protectin g Infant s ...... .
2 6 Protectin
g Smal l Childre n . 3 1
Protectin g Large r Childre n 3 4
Usin g Chil d Seat s
Wit h Tether s .......... . 3 8
Additiona l Informatio n Abou t
You r Sea t Belt s .......... . 4 1
Sea t Bel t Syste m
Component s .......... . 4 1
Lap/Shoulde r Bel t ...... . 4 1
La p Bel t .............. . 4 2
Sea t Bel t Maintenanc e ... . 4 2
Additiona l Informatio n Abou t
You r SR S .............. . 4 3
SR S Component s ....... . 4 3
Ho w You r Airbag s Wor k . . 4 4
Ho w You r SR S Indicato r
Ligh t Work s .......... . 4 5
SR S Servic e ........... . 4 6
Additiona l Safet y Precaution s 4 6
Carbo n Monoxid e Hazar d .. . 4 7
Safet y Label s ............ . 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
i n al l type s o f collisions . Airbag s
supplemen t sea t belts , bu t airbag s
ar e designe d t o inflat e onl y i n a
moderat e t o sever e fronta l
collision . S o eve n thoug h you r
vehicl e 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 13 .)
Restrai n A H 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 18 .)
B e Awar e o f Airba g Hazard s
Whil e airbag s 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 and 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 driv e 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 Vehicl e 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 pressur e an d
conditio n frequently , an d perfor m
al l regularl y schedule d
maintenance . (Se e pag e 204 .)
Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

You
r Vehicle' s Safet y Feature s

AIRBAG S

POWE R DOO R
LOCK S
SEA
T BELT S

SAFET Y CAG E

COLLAPSIBL E

STEERIN G
COLUM N
CRUSH
ZONE S You
r vehicl e i s equippe d wit h
man y feature s tha t wor k togethe r
t o protec t yo u an d you r
passengers during a crash .
Som e safet y feature s d o no t
requir e an y actio n o n you r part .
Thes e includ e a stron g stee l
framewor k tha t form s a safet y
cage aroun d th e passenger
compartment ; fron t an d rea r crus h
zone s tha t ar e designe d to
crumpl e an d absor b energ y durin g
a crash ; an d a collapsibl e steerin g

column .

Thes e safet y feature s ar e designe d
t o reduc e th e severit y o f injurie s
i n a crash . However , yo u an d you r
passengers can't tak e ful l
advantag e o f thes e safet y feature s
unles s yo u remai n sittin g in a
prope r positio n an d always wear

your seat belts properly. In fact ,

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

som
e safet y feature s ca n
contribut e t o injurie s i f the y ar e
no t use d properly .
Sea t Belt s
Fo r you r safety , an d th e safet y o f
you r passengers , you r vehicl e i s
equippe d wit h sea t belt s i n al l
seatin g 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
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 i n a crash , eve n
thoug h you r vehicl e ha s airbags .
I n addition , mos t state s an d
Canadia n province s requir e yo u t o
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 i n almos t
ever y typ e o f crash , includin g
sid e an d rea r impact s an d
rollovers . I n a rollove r crash ,
a n unbelte d perso n i s mor e
likel y t o di e tha n a perso n
wearin g a sea t belt . You r airba g
ca n onl y b e helpfu l i n a
moderat e t o sever e fronta l

collision .
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 .

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 .

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 t o 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 i n 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 .
Airbag
s

You r vehicl e ha s a Supplementa l
Restrain t Syste m (SRS ) wit h
fronta l airbag s t o hel p protec t th e
drive r an d a fron t sea t passenger . Thi
s syste m als o
include s a n indicato r
ligh t o n th e instrumen t pane l t o
aler t yo u t o a possibl e proble m
wit h th e system .
Th e mos t importan t thing s yo u
nee d t o kno w abou t you r airbag s

are :
Airbags
do not replace seat

belts. The sea t belt s ar e th e
occupants ' primar y protectio n
i n al l type s o f collisions . Th e
airbag s supplemen t th e sea t
belt s b y providin g extr a
protectio n fo r th e hea d an d
ches t o f eac h fron t sea t
occupan t i n a moderat e t o
sever e fronta l collision .
Airbags offer no protection in
side impacts, rear impacts,
rollovers, or minor collisions.
Airbag s ar e designe d to deplo y
Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

AI
R

BA G

onl
y durin g a moderat e to
sever e fronta l collision .
Airbags
can pose serious

hazards. To d o thei r job ,
airbag s mus t inflat e wit h
tremendou s forc e an d speed . S o
whil e airbag s sav e lives , the y
ca n caus e seriou s injurie s t o
adult s an d large r childre n wh o
ar e no t wearin g sea t belts , ar e
no t wearin g the m properly , ar e
sittin g to o clos e t o th e airbag ,
o r ar e no t sittin g in a prope r
position . Infant s an d smal l
childre n ar e a t a n eve n greate r
ris k o f injur y o r death .
What you should do: Always
wea r you r sea t bel t properly , an d
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 .
Seat
s an d Seat-Back s

You r vehicle' s seat s ar e designe d
t o kee p yo u in a comfortable ,
uprigh t positio n s o yo u ca n tak e
ful l advantag e o f th e protectio n
offere d b y sea t belt s an d th e
energy-absorbin g material s i n th e

seats.

Ho w yo u adjus t you r seat s an d
seat-back s ca n als o affec t you r
safety . Fo r example , sittin g to o
clos e t o th e steerin g whee l o r
dashboar d increase s th e ris k o f
yo u o r you r passenge r bein g
injure d b y strikin g th e insid e o f
th e vehicle , o r b y a n inflatin g

airbag .
Reclinin
g a seat-bac k to o fa r
reduce s th e sea t belt' s
effectivenes s an d increase s th e
chanc e tha t th e seat' s occupan t
wil l slid e unde r th e sea t bel t i n a
cras h an d b e seriousl y injured .

What you should do: Mov e th e

fron t seat s a s fa r bac k a s possible ,
an d kee p adjustabl e seat-back s i n
a n uprigh t positio n wheneve r th e
vehicl e i s moving .

Hea d Restraint s

Hea d restraint s ca n hel p protec t
yo u fro m whiplas h an d othe r
injuries . Fo r maximu m protection ,
th e bac k o f you r hea d shoul d res t
agains t th e cente r o f th e hea d
restraint .
Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Doo
r Lock s

Keepin g you r door s locke d
reduce s th e chanc e o f bein g
throw n ou t o f th e vehicl e durin g
a crash . I t als o help s preven t
occupants from accidentall y
openin g a doo r an d fallin g out ,
an d outsider s fro m unexpectedl y
openin g you r doors .

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 vehicle' 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 13 ). 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

18 ).

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

10 ).

Seat-back s ar e uprigh t (se e
pag e 11 ).
Hea d restraint s ar e properl y
adjuste d (se e pag e 12 ).
Al l door s an d th e tailgat e ar e
close d an d locke d (se e pag e

10 ).

Al l carg o i s properl y store d o r
secure d (se e pag e 175 ). 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

T
o reduc e th e chanc e o f injury ,
wea r you r sea t bel t properly , si t
uprigh t wit h you r bac k agains t th e
seat , an d mov e th e sea t a s fa r bac k
a s possibl e fro m th e steerin g
whee l whil e stil l maintainin g ful l
contro l o f th e vehicle . Als o mak e
sur e you r fron t sea t passenge r
move s th e sea t a s fa r t o th e rea r a s

possible .

Most shorte r driver s ca n ge t fa r
enoug h awa y fro m th e steerin g
whee l an d stil l reac h th e pedals .
However , i f yo u ar e concerned
abou t sittin g to o close , w e
recommen d tha t yo u investigat e
whethe r som e typ e o f adaptiv e
equipmen t ma y help .
Onc e you r sea t i s adjuste d
correctly , roc k i t bac k an d fort h t o
mak e sur e th e sea t i s locke d in

position .

See pages 9 1 an d 9 2 fo r ho w to
adjus t th e fron t seats .
3
. Adjus t th e Seat-Back s

Adjus t th e driver' s seat-bac k t o
a comfortable , uprigh t position ,
leavin g ampl e space betwee n you r
ches t an d th e airba g cove r i n th e
cente r o f th e steerin g wheel . I f
yo u si t to o clos e t o th e steerin g
wheel , yo u coul d b e injure d if th e
airba g inflates .
A fron t passenger should als o
adjus t th e seat-bac k t o a n uprigh t
position , bu t a s fa r fro m th e

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Sittin
g to o clos e t o th e airba g

ca n resul t i n seriou s injur y o r

deat h i f th e airbag s inflate .

Alway s si t a s fa r bac k fro m th e

airbag s a s possible .