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.
Insert the latch plate into the buckle,
then tug on the belt to make sure the
belt is securely latched. Check that
the belt is not twisted, because a
twisted belt can cause serious
injuries in a crash.
Reclining a seat-back so that the
shoulder part of the belt no longer
rests against the occupant’s chest
reduces the protective capability of
the belt. It also increases the chance
of sliding under the belt in a crash
and being seriously injured. The
farther a seat-back is reclined, the
greater the risk of injury.
See page f or how to adjust the
seat-backs.
69
Protecting A dults and Teens
Fasten and Position the Seat
Belts
4.
12
Reclining the seat-back too far
can result in serious injury or
death in a crash.
Adjust the seat-back to an
upright position, and sit well
back in the seat.
\f—\f—y
y
(\fy\f\f
y
2008 S2000
The lap and shoulder belt goes over
your shoulder, across your chest,
and across your hips.
To fasten the belt, insert the latch
plate into the buckle, then tug on the
belt to make sure the buckle is
latched (see page f or how to
properly position the belt).
To unlock the belt, press the red
PRESSbuttononthebuckle.Guide
the belt across your body so that it
retracts completely. Af ter exiting the
vehicle, be sure the belt is out of the
way and will not get closed in the
door.Both seat belts have an emergency
retractor. In normal driving, the
retractor lets you move f reely in your
seat while it keeps some tension on
the belt. During a collision or sudden
stop, the retractor automatically
locks the belt to help restrain your
body.
The passenger’s seat belt has a
lockable retractor that must be
activated to secure a forward-facing
child seat (see page ).
If the shoulder part of the belt is
pulled all the way out, the lockable
retractor will activate. The belt will
retract, but it will not allow the
passenger to move f reely.
To deactivate the lockable retractor,
unlatch the buckle and let the seat
belt fully retract. To refasten the
seat belt, pull it out only as f ar as
needed.
12
34
Additional Inf ormation About Your Seat Belts
L ap/Shoulder Belt
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
17
\f—\f—y
y
(\fy\f\fy
2008 S2000
µ
µ
µ
Children depend on adults to protect
them. However, despite their best
intentions, many adults do not know
how to protect child
passengers.
Each year, many children are injured
or killed in vehicle crashes because
they are either unrestrained or not
properly restrained. In f act, vehicle
accidents are the number one cause
of the death of children ages 12 and
under. (see pages ).
If you ever need to drive with a child
in your vehicle, be sure to read this
section. It begins with important
general guidelines, then presents
special inf ormation f or small
children who must ride in a f orward-
f acing child seat, and f or larger
children. To reduce the number of child
deaths and injuries, every state and
Canadian province requires that
children be properly restrained when
they ride in a vehicle.
(see pages
).
3336 3740properly
All Children Must Be Restrained
Protecting Children General Guidelines
Larger children must be restrained
wit h a lap/shoulder belt and ride ona boost er seat unt il t he seat belt f it st hem properly
Anychildwhoistoosmalltoweara seat belt must be restrained in anapproved child seat t hat is properlysecured t o t he vehicle
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
29
Children who are unrestrained
or improperly restrained can be
seriously injured or killed in a
crash.
Any child too small for a seat
belt should be properly
restrained in a child seat. A
larger child should be properly
restrained with a seat belt and
use a booster seat if necessary.
\f—\f—y
y
(\fy\f\fy
2008 S2000
To provide proper protection, a child
seat should meet three
requirements:Look f or FMVSS
213 or CMVSS 213 on the box.
Bef ore purchasing a child seat, or
using a previously purchased one, we
recommend that you test the seat to
make sure it f its properly in the
passenger’s seat. Af ter selecting a proper child seat,
there are three main steps in
installing a child seat:
All child seats must be
secured to the vehicle with the lap
part of a lap/shoulder belt. A child
whose seat is not properly secured
to the vehicle can be endangered
in a crash.
Af ter installing a child
seat, push and pull the seat
f orward and f rom side-to-side to
verify that it is secure.
A child seat secured with a seat
belt should be installed as f irmly
as possible. However, it does not
need to be ‘‘rock solid.’’ Some side-
to-side movement can be expected
and should not reduce the child
seat’s ef f ectiveness. If the child seat is not secure, use
a dif f erent style of child seat that
can be f irmly secured.
Make sure the child is properly
strappedinthechildseat
according to the child seat maker’s
instructions. A child who is not
properly secured in a child seat
canbeseriouslyinjuredinacrash.
The f ollowing pages provide
guidelines on how to properly install
a f orward-f acing child seat.
Selecting a Child Seat Installing a Child Seat
T he child seat should meet U.S. or
Canadian Mot or Vehicle Saf et ySt andard 213.
T he child seat should be of theproper type and size to f it the child.
T he child seat should f it thepassenger’s seat . Properly secure t he child seat t o
the vehicle.
Make sure t he child seat is f irmlysecured. Secure the child in the child seat.
1.
2.3. 1.
2. 3.
Selecting a Child Seat, Installing a Child Seat
34
\f—\f—y
\fy
(\fy\f\fy
2008 S2000
With the child seat in position,
route the belt through the child
seat according to the seat maker’s
instructions, then insert the latch
plate into the buckle.
To activate the lockable retractor,
slowly pull the shoulder part of the
belt all the way out until it stops,
then let the belt f eed back into the
retractor.
In this vehicle, a f orward-f acing child
seat must be secured to the vehicle
with the lap part of the lap/shoulder
belt. In addition, the lockable
retractor must be activated to secure
a child seat.
Af ter the belt has retracted, tug on
it. If the belt is locked, you will not
be able to pull it out. If you can pull
the belt out, it is not locked and
you will need to repeat these steps.
Move the vehicle seat to the rear-
most position. Moving the seat as
f ar back as possible reduces the
chance of a child being injured or
killed if the passenger’s airbag
inf lates.
1.
2.
3.4.
CONT INUED
Installing a Child Seat
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
35
\f—\f—y
y
(\fy\f\f\fy
2008 S2000
To remove slack, it may help to
putweightonthechildseat,or
push on the back of the seat while
pulling up on the belt.Push and pull the child seat
f orward and f rom side-to-side to
verify that it is secure enough to
stay upright during normal driving
maneuvers. If the child seat is not
secure, unlatch the belt, allow it to
retract f ully, then repeat these
steps.To deactivate the lockable retractor
andremoveachildseat,unlatchthe
buckle, unroute the seat belt, and let
the belt fully retract.
Af ter conf irming that the belt is
locked, grab the shoulder part of
the belt near the buckle, and pull
up to remove any slack from the
lap part of the belt. Remember, if
the lap part of the belt is not tight,
the child seat will not be secure.
5. 6.
Installing a Child Seat
36
\f—\f—y
\fy
(\fy\f\f
y
2008 S2000
If you decide that a child can saf ely
ride in this vehicle, be sure to:Caref ully read the owner’s manual,
and make sure you understand all
seat belt instructions and all saf ety
inf ormation.
Move the vehicle seat to the rear-
most position.
Have the child sit up straight, back
against the seat, and feet on or
near the f loor.
Check that the child’s seat belt is
properly and securely positioned.
Supervise the child. Even mature
children sometimes need to be
reminded to f asten the seat belts
or sit properly.
Physically, a child must be large
enough f or the lap/shoulder belt to
properly f it (see page ). If the seat
belt does not f it properly, with or
without the child sitting on a booster,
the child should not sit in this vehicle.
To saf ely ride in this vehicle, a child
must be able to f ollow the rules,
including sitting properly, and
wearing the seat belt properly
throughout ride.
The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration and Transport
Canada recommend that all children
age 12 and under be properly
restrained in a back seat.
If the passenger’s 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.
Of course, children vary widely. And
while age may be one indicator of
when a child can saf ely ride in this
vehicle. There are other important
f actors you should consider. 37
When Can a L arger Child Ride in
This VehiclePhysical Size
Maturity
Protecting L arger Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
39
\f—\f—y
y
(\fy\f\fy
2008 S2000
Push the locking levers up while
holding the tab. When the latch is
in place, release the tab. Make
sure the convertible top is securely
latched.
Push in the tab to release the
locking levers, and pull them down.
Note the movement of the latch
when you push in the tab.
While holding the lever down,
push in the tab to engage the latch
in the windshield header. Pull the
topdownandforwardif necessary.
Apply the parking brake. The
convertible top will not operate
unless the parking brake is f ully
engaged.
Turn the ignition switch to the ON
(II) position.
Push the ROOF switch f orward
and hold it. The windows, if raised,
will lower automatically.
The convertible top will rise.
Release the ROOF switch when
the top reaches the windshield
header.
5. 6.
4.
1.
2.
3.
Convertible Top
Raising the Convertible T op
76
TAB
LATCH
LOCKING LEVER
Operating the convertible top
while any part of a passenger is
in the way of the convertible top
can cause serious injury.
Make sure that you, your
passenger, or any other people
around the vehicle are clear of
the moving convertible top.
\f—\f—y
y
(\fy\f\f
y
2008 S2000