2001 Lexus ES300 Drive bel

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SEAT BELTS
Seat belt precautions
Lexus strongly urges that the driver and passengers in
the vehicle be properly restrained at all times with the
seat belts provided. Failure to do so could increase the
chance of injury and/or the severity of injury in accidents.
Child. Use a child restraint system appropriate for the
child until the child becomes large enough to properly
wear the vehicle's seat belts. See ªChild restraintº on
page 175 for details.
If a child is too large for a child restraint system, the child
should sit in the rear seat and must be restrained using
the vehicle's seat belt. According to accident statistics,
the child is safer when properly restrained in the rear
seat than in the front seat.
If a child must sit in the front seat, the seat belts should
be worn properly. Do not let the child sit on your lap. It
does not provide sufficient restraint. If an accident
occurs and the seat belts are not worn properly, the force
of the rapid inflation of the airbag may cause death or
serious injury to the child.
Do not allow the child to stand up or kneel on either rear
or front seats. An unrestrained child could suf fer serious
injury or death during emergency braking or a collision.
Pregnant woman. Lexus recommends the use of a
seat belt. Ask your doctor for specific recommendations. The lap
belt should be worn securely
and as low as possible over the hips and not on the waist.

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Front seat belt pretensioners
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The driver and front passenger's seat belt
pretensioners are designed to be activated in
response to a severe frontal impact.
When the airbag sensor detects the shock of a severe
frontal impact, the front seat belts are quickly drawn
back in by the retractors so that the belts snugly restrain
the front seat occupants.
The front seat belt pretensioners are activated even with
no passenger in the front seat.
Collisions occurring at certain speeds and angles may
cause the seat belt pretensioners and SRS airbags not
to operate all together.

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This front seat belt pretensioner system has a service
reminder indicator to inform the driver of operating
problems. If any of the following conditions occurs, this
indicates a malfunction of the airbags or pretensioners.
Contact your Lexus dealer as soon as possible to
service the vehicle.
The light does not come on when the ignition key is
turned to the ªACCº or ªONº position, or the light
remains on.
 The light comes on or flashes while driving.
 If either front seat belt does not retract or cannot be
pulled out due to a malfunction or activation of the
relevant front seat belt pretensioner.

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In the following cases, contact your Lexus dealer as
soon as possible:
The front part of the vehicle (shaded in the illustration)
was involved in an accident that was not severe
enough to cause the front seat belt pretensioners to
operate.
 Either front seat belt pretensioner assembly or
surrounding area is scratched, cracked, or otherwise
damaged.SRS AIRBAGS
The SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) airbags
are designed to provide further protection for the
driver and front passenger in addition to the primary
safety protection provided by the seat belts.
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SRS front airbags
In response to a severe frontal impact, the SRS front
airbags work together with the seat belts to help
reduce injury by inflating. The SRS front airbags
help to reduce injuries mainly to the driver's or front
passenger's
head or chest caused by directly hitting
the steering wheel or dashboard.
The front passenger airbag is activated even with no
passenger in the front seat.
Be sure to wear your seat belt properly.

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154
CAUTION
The driver or front passenger too close to the steering
wheel or dashboard during airbag deployment can be
killed or seriously injured. Lexus strongly recommends
that:
The driver sit as far back as possible from the
steering wheel while still maintaining control of the
vehicle.
 The front passenger sit as far back as possible from
the dashboard.
 All vehicle occupants be properly restrained using
the available seat belts.
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155


SRS side airbags
In response to a severe side impact, the SRS side
airbags work together with the seat belts to help
reduce
injury by inflating. The SRS side airbags help
to reduce injuries mainly to the driver's or front
passenger's chest.
The SRS side airbag on the passenger seat is activated
even with no passenger in the front seat.
Be sure to wear your seat belt properly.

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156
CAUTION
SRS side airbags inflate with considerable force. To
avoid potential death or serious injury when they inflate,
the driver and front passenger must:
 Wear their seat belts properly.
 Remain properly seated with their back upright and
against the seat at all times.
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The indicator comes on when the ignition key is
turned to the ªACCº or ªONº position. It goes off
after about 6 seconds. This means the SRS airbags
are operating properly.
This warning light system monitors the airbag sensor
assembly, front airbag sensors, side airbag sensors,
front seat belt pretensioner assemblies, inflators,
warning light, interconnecting wiring and power sources.
(For details, see ªService reminder indicators and
warning buzzersº on page 60 for instructions.)