2001 SUBARU IMPREZA child restraint

2-12According to accident statistics, children are safer when properly restrained in the rear seating positions than in the front seatingpositions. For instructions and precautions concerning the childrestraint system, see the
“Child restraint systems ” section in this
chapter.
Infants or small children
Use a c hild restraint system that is suitab le for y our vehic le. See in-
formation on “Child restraint systems ” in this c hap ter.
Children
If a c hild is too b ig for a c hild restraint system, the c hild should sit in
the rear seat and b e restrained using the seatb elts . Ac c ord ing to ac -
c id ent statistic s, c hild ren are safer when p rop erly restrained in the
rear seating p ositions than in the front seating p o sitions. Never allow a
c hild to stand up or kneel on the seat.
If the should er p ortion of the b elt c rosses the fac e or nec k, move the
c hild c loser to the b elt b uc kle to help p rovid e a g ood should er b elt fit.
Care must b e taken to sec urely p lac e the lap b elt a s low as p ossib le
on the hip s and not on the c hild ’s waist. If the should er p ortion of the
b elt c annot b e p rop erly p ositioned , a c hild restrai nt system should b e
used . Never p lac e the should er b elt und er the c hild ’s arm or b ehind
the c hild ’s b ac k.
Expectant mothers
Exp ec tant mothers also need to use the seatb elts. T hey should c on-
sult their d oc tor for sp ec ific rec ommend ations. The lap b elt should b e
worn sec urely and as low as p ossib le over the hip s, not over the
waist.
Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) function (except
2-point type seatbelt)
The emerg enc y loc king retrac tor allows normal b od y movement b ut the
retrac tor loc ks automatic ally d uring a sud d en stop , imp ac t or if you p ull
the b elt very q uic kly out of the retrac tor.

Seat, seat belt and SRS airbag2-13
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Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) function (except
driver’ s and 2-point type seatbelt)
When sec uring a c hild restraint system on the p asse ng ers’ seats, the
seatb elt must b e c hang ed over to the Automatic Loc k ing Retrac tor (ALR)
mod e.
When the c hild restraint system is removed , make su re that the retrac tor
op erates as an Emerg enc y Loc king Retrac tor (ELR).
For instruc tions on how to c onvert the retrac tor to the ALR mod e and re-
store it to the ELR mod e, see the “Child restraint systems ” sec tion in this
c hap ter. Seatbelt warning light and chime
Your vehic le is eq uip p ed with a seatb elt warning d e vic e at the d river’s
seat.
This d evic e c auses the seatb elt warning lig ht on th e instrument p anel to
lig ht up for ab out six sec ond s when the ig nition sw itc h is turned to the
“ ON ” p osition to remind the d river to wear the seatb elt . If the d river’s
seatb elt is not fastened , a warning c hime sound s at the same time.
Fastening the seatbelt
WARNING
Never use a belt that is twisted or reversed. In an accident, this
can increase the risk or severity of injury. Keep the lap belt as low as possible on your hips. In a colli-
sion, this spreads the force of the lap belt over stronger hipbones instead of across the weaker abdomen. Seatbelts provide maximum restraint when the occupant sits
well back and upright in the seat. To reduce the risk of sliding un-der the seatbelt in a collision, the front seatbacks should be al-ways used in the upright position while the vehicle is running. Ifthe front seatbacks are not used in the upright position in a colli-
sion, the risk of sliding under the lap belt and of the lap belt slid-ing up over the abdomen will increase, and both can result in se-

2-20Child restraint systems
WARNING
Never let a passenger hold a child on his or her lap while the
vehicle is moving. The passenger cannot protect the child from injury in a collision, because the child will be caught between the
passenger and objects inside the vehicle. Additionally, holding achild in your lap or arms in the front seat exposes that child to
another serious danger. Since the SRS airbag deploys with con-
siderable speed and force, the child could be injured or evenkilled. Put children aged 12 and under in the rear seat properly re-
strained at all times. The SRS airbag deploys with considerablespeed and force and can injure or even kill children, especially ifthey are 12 years of age and under and are not restrained or im-properly restrained. Because children are lighter and weaker than
adults, their risk of being injured from deployment is greater. Forthat reason, be sure to secure ALL types of child restraint
devices (including forward facing child seats) in the REAR seats
at all times. You should choose a restraint device which isappropriate for the child ’s age, height and weight. According to
accident statistics, children are safer when properly restrained inthe rear seating positions than in the front seating positions. SINCE YOUR VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A PASSENGER ’S
SRS AIRBAG, DO NOT INSTALL A REARWARD FACING CHILD
SEAT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER ’S SEAT. DOING SO RISKS SE-
RIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO THE CHILD BY PLACING THE
CHILD’ S HEAD TOO CLOSE TO THE SRS AIRBAG.
Children should be properly restrained in the rear seat at all
times. Never allow a child to stand up, or to kneel on the front
passenger’ s seat. The SRS airbag deploys with considerable
force and can injure or even kill the child.

Seat, seat belt and SRS airbag2-21
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HS0042 OM-H0051
Never install rearward facing child seat in the front passenger
’s seat.
HS0228
Never allow a child to stand up, or to kneel on the front passenger ’s seat
or any other seat.
Secure child restraint devices in the REAR seats at all times.
HS0229
Never hold a child on your lap or in your arms in the front passenger ’s
seat or any other seat.
WARNING
Child restraint systems and seat belts can become hot in a ve-
hicle that has been closed up in sunny weather; they could burn a small child. Check the child restraint system before you place achild in it. Do not leave an unsecured child restraint system in your vehi-
cle. Unsecured child restraint systems can be thrown around in-
side of the vehicle in a sudden stop, turn or accident; it can strikeand injure vehicle occupants as well as result in serious injuriesor death to the child.

2-22Infants and small c hild ren should always b e p lac ed
in an infant or c hild
restraint system in the rear seat while rid ing in t he vehic le. You should
use an infant or c hild restraint system that meets Fed eral Motor Vehic le
Safety Stand ard s or Canad a Motor Vehic le Safety Sta nd ard s, is c omp at-
ib le with your vehic le and is ap p rop riate for the c hild’s ag e and size. All
c hild restraint systems are d esig ned to b e sec ured in the vehic le seats
b y lap b elts or the lap b elt p ortion of a lap /shoul d er b elt.
Child ren c ould b e end ang ered in an ac c id ent if thei r c hild restraints are
not p rop erly sec ured in the vehic le. When installin g the c hild restraint
system, c arefully follow the manufac turer ’s instruc tions.
Ac c ord ing to ac c id ent statistic s, c hild ren are safe r when p rop erly re-
strained in the rear seating p ositions than in the front seating p ositions.
All U.S. states and Canad ian p rovinc es req uire that infants and small
c hild ren b e restrained in an ap p roved c hild restrai nt system at all times
while the vehic le is moving .
Installing child restraint systems in the 2-point type seat belt position (Rear center seating position)
CAUTION
When you install a child restraint system, follow the manufactur-
er’ s instructions supplied with it. After installing the child re-
straint system, check to ensure that it is held securely in posi-
tion. If it is not held tight and secure, the danger of your childsuffering personal injury in the event of an accident may be in-creased.

Seat, seat belt and SRS airbag2-23
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HS2002BA
1. Set the c hild restraint system in the c enter seat ing p osition.
2. Run the 2-p oint typ e seat b elt throug h or around the c hild restraint
system following the instruc tions p rovid ed b y its m anufac turer.
3. Insert the tong ue p late into the b uc kle.
4. Tig hten the seat b elt.
5. Before having a c hild sit in the c hild restraint system, move it b ac k
and forth to c hec k if it is firmly sec ured . Sometim es a c hild restraint
c an b e more firmly src ured b y p ushing it d own into the seat c ushion
and then tig htening the seatb elt.
If the c hild restraint system req uires a top tether , latc h the hook onto
the top tether anc hor and tig hten the top tether. S ee “Top tether an-
c horag es ” for ad d itional instruc tions.
6. To remove the c hild restraint system, p ress the r elease b utton on
the seatb elt b uc kle. Installing child restraint systems in the 3-point type seat belt position CAUTION
When you install a child restraint system, follow the manufactur-
er’ s instructions supplied with it. After installing the child re-
straint system, check to ensure that it is held securely in posi-
tion. If it is not held tight and secure, the danger of your childsuffering personal injury in the event of an accident may be in-creased.

2-24NOTE When the child restraint system is no longer in use, remove it and
restore the ELR function of the retractor. That function is restored
by allowing the seat belt to retract fully.
HGS021BA
1. Set the c hild restraint system in the seating p os
ition.
2. Run the lap and should er b elts throug h or around the c hild re-
straint system following the instruc tions p rovid ed b y its manufac turer.
If the should er b elt g oes in front of the c hild ’s fac e or nec k, p ut it b e-
hind the c hild restraint system.
3. Insert the tong ue p late into the b uc kle.
4. Take up the slac k in the lap b elt.
5. Pull out the seat b elt fully from the retrac tor t o c hang e the retrac tor
over from the Emerg enc y Loc king Retrac tor(ELR) to t he Automatic
Loc king Retrac tor (ALR) func tion. Then, allow the b elt to rewind into
the retrac tor. As the b elt is rewind ing , c lic ks wil l b e heard whic h ind i-
c ate the retrac tor func tions as ALR.
6. Before having a c hild sit in the c hild restraint system, move it b ac k
and forth to c hec k if it is firmly sec ured . Sometim es a c hild restraint
c an b e more firmly sec ured b y p ushing it d own into the seat c ushion
and then tig htening the seat b elt.
7. Pull at the should er p ortion of the b elt to c onfi rm that it c annot b e
p ulled out (ALR p rop erly func tioning ).
If the c hild restraint system req uires a top tether , latc h the hook onto the
top tether anc hor and tig hten the top tether. See “Top tether anc horag es ”

2-28
Do not place any objects over or near the SRS airbag cover or
between you and the SRS airbag. If the SRS airbag deploys, those objects could interfere with its proper operation and could
be propelled inside the car and cause injury. The SRS airbags deploy with considerable speed and force.
Occupants who are out of proper position when the SRS airbag
deploys could suffer very serious injuries. Because the SRS air-bag needs enough space for deployment, the driver should al-ways sit upright and well back in the seat as far from the steeringwheel as practical while still maintaining full vehicle control and
the front passenger should move the seat as far back as possibleand sit upright and well back in the seat.
HS0233
Adjust the seatback to upright position. Sit well back and upright.
Move the seat as far from the steering wheel as practical.HB0290
Adjust the seatback to upright position. Sit well back and upright.
Move the seat as far back as possible.
WARNING
Put children aged 12 and under in the rear seat properly re-
strained at all times. The SRS airbag deploys with considerable speed and force and can injure or even kill children, especially ifthey are 12 years of age and under and are not restrained or im-properly restrained. Because children are lighter and weaker than
adults, their risk of being injured from deployment is greater.
For that reason, we strongly recommend that ALL children (in-cluding those in child seats and those that have outgrown child
restraint devices) sit in the REAR seat properly restrained at alltimes in a child restraint device or in a seatbelt, whichever is ap-