2005 HONDA ELEMENT height

Position the lap part of the belt as
low as possible across your hips,
then pull up on the shoulder part of
the belt so the lap part f its snugly.
This lets your strong pelvic bones
take the force of a crash and reduces
the chance of internal injuries.The front seats have adjustable seat
belt anchors. To adjust the height of
an anchor, press and hold the release
buttons and slide the anchor up or
down as needed (it has f our
positions).
If necessary, pull up on the belt again
to remove any slack, then check that
the belt rests across the center of
your chest and over your shoulder.
This spreads the f orces of a crash
over the strongest bones in your
upper body. If the seat belt touches or crosses
your neck, or if it crosses your arm
instead of your shoulder, you need to
adjust the seat belt anchor height.
Protecting A dults and Teens
16
RELEASE
BUTTONS
Improperly positioning the seat
belts can cause serious injury
or death in a crash.
Make sure all seat belts are
properly positioned before
driving.

CONT INUED
An inf ant must be properly
restrained in a rear-f acing, reclining
child seat until the child reaches the
seat maker’s weight or height limit
for the seat and the child is at least
one year old.
Only a rear-f acing child seat provides
proper support f or a baby’s head,
neck, and back.Two types of seats may be used: a
seat designed exclusively f or inf ants,
or a convertible seat used in the rear-
f acing, reclining mode.
If placed
f acing f orward, an inf ant could be
very seriously injured during a
f rontal collision. A rear-f acing child seat can be placed
in any seating position in the back
seat, but not in the f ront.
If the passenger’s f ront airbag
inflates, it can hit the back of the
child seat with enough f orce to kill or
seriously injure an inf ant.
When properly installed, a rear-
f acing child seat may prevent the
driver or a f ront passenger f rom
moving the seat as far back as
recommended, or f rom locking the
seat-back in the desired position.
Protecting Inf ants
Child Seat T ype
Child Seat Placement
Do not put a rear-f acing child seat in a f orward-f acing position. Never put a
rear-f acing child seat in t he f ront seat .
Protecting Inf ants and Small Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
35

A child who is at least one year old,
and who fits within the child seat
maker’s weight and height limits,
should be restrained in a f orward-
f acing, upright child seat.
Of the different seats available, we
recommend those that have a f ive-
point harness system as shown.
In either situation, we strongly
recommend that you install the child
seat directly behind the f ront
passenger seat, move the seat as far
f orward as needed, and leave it
unoccupied. Or you may wish to get
a smaller rear-f acing child seat.
We also recommend that a smallchild use the child seat as long as
possible, until the child reaches the
weight or height limit f or the seat.
If the vehicle seat is too
f ar f orward, or the child’s head is
thrown f orward during a collision, an
inf lating airbag can strike the child
with enough force to cause very
serious or f atal injuries. We strongly recommend placing a
forward-facing child seat in a back
seat, not the f ront.
Protecting Inf ants and Small Children
Protecting Small Children
Child Seat T ype Placing a f orward-f acing child seat in
t he f ront seat of a vehicle equippedwith a passenger’s airbag can behazardous.
Child Seat Placement
36
Placing a rear-facing child seat
in the front seat can result in
serious injury or death if the
passenger’s front airbag inflates.
Always place a rear-facing child
seat in the back seat, not the
front.

Does the shoulder belt cross
between the child’s neck and arm?
Is the lap part of the belt as low as
possible, touching the child’s
thighs?
Will the child be able to stay
seated like this f or the whole trip?
If you answer yes to all these
questions, the child is ready to wear
the lap/shoulder belt correctly. If
you answer no to any question, the
child needs to ride on a booster seat.
To determine if a lap/shoulder belt
properly f its a child, have the child
put on the seat belt, then ask
yourself :
Does the child sit all the way back
against the seat?
Do the child’s knees bend
comf ortably over the edge of the
seat?
When a child reaches the
recommended weight or height limit
for a forward-facing child seat, the
child should sit in a back seat on a
booster seat and wear a lap/shoulder
belt.
The f ollowing pages give
instructions on how to check proper
seat belt f it, what kind of booster
seat to use if one is needed, and
important precautions f or a child
who must sit in f ront.
1.
2.3.
4.
5.
Checking Seat Belt Fit
Protecting L arger Children
Protecting L arger Children
44
Allowing a larger child age 12 or
under to sit in front can result in
injury or death if the passenger’s
front airbag inflates.
If a larger child must ride in front,
move the vehicle seat as far
back as possible, use a booster
seat if needed, have the child
sit up properly and wear the
seat belt properly.

A child who has outgrown a forward-
f acing child seat should ride in a
back seat and use a booster seat
until the lap/shoulder belt f its them
properly without the booster.A side airbag also poses risks. If any
part of a larger child’s body is in the
path of a deploying side airbag, the
child could receive possibly serious
injuries. If the passenger’s f ront airbag
inf lates in a moderate to severe
f rontal collision, the airbag can cause
serious injuries to a child who is
unrestrained, improperly restrained,
sitting too close to the airbag, or out
of position. The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration and Transport
Canada recommend that all children
age 12 and under be properly
restrained in the back seat.
Some states and Canadian provinces
also require children to use a booster
seat until they reach a given age or
weight (e.g., 6 years or 60 lbs). Be
sure to check current laws in the
states or provinces where you intend to drive.
Booster seats can be high-back or
low-back. Whichever style you select,
make sure the booster meets f ederal
saf ety standards and that you f ollow
the booster seat maker’s instructions.
If a child who uses a booster seat
must ride in f ront, move the vehicle
seat as far back as possible and be
sure the child is wearing the seat
belt properly.
A child may continue using a booster
seat until the tops of their ears are
even with the top of the vehicle’s or
booster’s seat-back. A child of this
height should be tall enough to use
the lap/shoulder belt without a
booster seat.
CONT INUED
Using a Booster Seat
When Can a L arger Child Sit in
Front
Protecting L arger Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
45

This section gives inf ormation about
the controls and displays that
contribute to the daily operation of
your vehicle. All the essential
controls are within easy reach............................
Control Locations .52
............................
Instrument Panel .53
..........
Instrument Panel Indicators . 54
.............................................
Gauges .58
...................................
Trip Meter .58
.....................................
Odometer .58
..................................
Fuel Gauge .58
..........
Check Fuel Cap Indicator . 59
...................
Temperature Gauge . 59
Controls Near the Steering .......................................
Wheel .60
.
Windshield Wipers and Washers . 61
...........
Turn Signal and Headlights . 62
........
Instrument Panel Brightness . 63
.................
Hazard Warning Button . 63
.................
Rear Window Def ogger . 63
..........
Steering Wheel Adjustment . 64
...............................
Keys and Locks .65
........................
Immobilizer System .66
.......................
Remote Transmitter .67
................................
Ignition Switch .69
......................................
Door Locks .70
......................
Power Door Locks .70
..................................
Rear Doors .70
............................................
Hatch .71
........................................
Tailgate .72 .................................................
Seats .73
........................
Seat Adjustments .73
Driver’s Seat Height ..............................
Adjustment .74
...................
FrontSeatArmrests . 74
..........................
Head Restraints .75
........................
Rear Seat Access .75
..........
Reclining the Front Seats . 76
...............
Folding the Rear Seats . 77
..........
Removing the Rear Seats . 79
..............................
Power Windows .81
.............................................
Mirrors .82
....
Adjusting the Power Mirrors . 82
.................................
Rear Windows .83
.................................
Parking Brake .83
............................................
Skylight .83
...........
Interior Convenience Items . 86
.......................
Beverage Holders .87
..........
Accessory Power Sockets . 87
....................................
Glove Box .87
.................................
Interior Lights .88
................................
Ceiling Light .88
........................
Cargo Area Light .88
.....................................
Spotlights .88
..................
Ignition Switch Light . 88
Instruments and Controls
Inst rument s and Cont rols
51

To adjust the height of the driver’s
seat, turn the dial on the outside of
the seat bottom.To change the angle of the rear seat-
back, pull the strap at the inside
edge of the seat cushion, make sure
the seat-back locks into position.
Each front seat has an armrest on
thesideof theseat-back.Touseit,
pivotitdown.On EX models
Seats
Driver’s Seat Height Adjustment Front Seat ArmrestsRear Seat
74
SEAT-BACK ADJUSTMENT STRAP

See page f or important saf etyinf ormation and a warning about how toproperly position the head restraints. 15
The rear seat passengers can get out
through the passenger’s door. Push
down on the release lever at the base
of the f ront passenger’s seat-back,
and push the seat-back forward. The
seat-back will tilt f orward and the
entire seat will move forward.
Make sure the seat is upright and
f ully latched bef ore sitting in it.
Your vehicle is equipped with head
restraints in all seating positions to
help protect you and your
passengers f rom whiplash and other
injuries. They are most ef f ective when you
adjust them so the back of the
occupant’s head rests against the
center of the restraint.
The head restraints in the f ront and
rear seating positions adjust f or
height. You need both hands to
adjust the restraint. To raise it, pull
upward. To lower the restraint, push
the release button sideways and
push the restraint down.
Seats
Head Restraints
Rear Seat Access
Inst rument s and Cont rols
75
RELEASE BUTTON RELEASE LEVER