Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
27
Adjustments
Safe seating position
For relaxed driving with as little fatigue as
possible, you should select a seating posi-
tion that reflects your personal require-
ments. In combination with the safety belts
and airbags, the correct seating position
also plays an important role in enhancing
occupant safety in the event of an accident.
To ensure that the vehicle's safety systems
provide you with optimal protection, we
request that you direct your careful atten-
tion to the following section.
For supplementary information on trans-
porting children refer to page 33.
Sitting safely with airbags
Always maintain an adequate dis-
tance between yourself and the air-
bags. Always hold the steering wheel by its
rim with hands at the 9 and 3 o'clock posi-
tions to minimize the risk of injuries to your
hands or arms in the event of airbag
deployment.
Never allow any objects, individuals or ani-
mals to obstruct the areas between pas-
sengers and airbags.
Never use the front airbag's cover as a
storage tray or support for objects of any
kind. Ensure that the passenger is correctly
seated, i.e. that no feet or legs are propped
against the dashboard. Otherwise, leg
injury could result if the knee airbag and
front airbag suddenly deployed.
Never let an occupant's head rest near or
on a side airbag because the inflating air-
bag could cause a serious or fatal injury.<
Even when all these guidelines are
observed, the risk of injury as a result of
contact with the airbags cannot entirely be
ruled out in some situations. In sensitive
individuals, the ignition and inflation noise
may induce a mild hearing loss that is tem-
porary in most cases.
For airbag locations and additional infor-
mation on airbags, refer to page 56.
Sitting safely with safety belts
Always fasten your safety belt before start-
ing off. As supplemental restraint devices,
the airbags are designed to enhance the
effectiveness of the safety belts, and not to
replace them.
Your vehicle offers two sitting positions,
each of which is equipped with a safety
belt.
At all times, occupants should sit
upright and be properly restrained –
infants and small children in appropriate
child-restraint systems; larger children and
adults using the safety belts.
Expectant mothers should always wear
their safety belts, taking care to position
the lap belt against the lower hips, where it
will not exert pressure against the abdomi-
nal area.
Never allow more than one person to wear
a single safety belt. Never allow infants or
small children to ride in a passenger's lap.
Do not route the belt across your neck, or
run it across sharp edges. Be sure that the
belt does not become caught or jammed.
Avoid twisting the belt while routing it firmly
across the hips and shoulder; wear it as
snugly against your body as possible. Do
not allow the belt to rest against hard or
fragile objects. Otherwise, the lap belt
could slide over the hips in the event of a
frontal impact, leading to abdominal injury.
Avoid wearing bulky clothing and pull on
the lap belt periodically to retension it over
your shoulders. Otherwise, the restraining
effect of the safety belt could be dimin-
ished.<
For information on using the safety belts,
refer to page 30.
