2009 HUMMER H3 belt

4. Remove the headrest by
pressing the button on the
headrest post, at the top of the
seatback, and lift to remove.
5. Lift the headrest off of the
seatback and store on the back
panel.To return the seatback(s) to the
upright position:
1. Lift the seatback partially and
reinsert the headrest.
2. Lift the seatback completely and
push it into place.
{CAUTION
If either seatback is not locked, it
could move forward in a sudden
stop or crash. That could cause
injury to the person sitting there.
Always push and pull on the
seatbacks to be sure they are
locked.
3. Make sure the seatback is locked
by pushing and pulling on it.
{CAUTION
A safety belt that is improperly
routed, not properly attached, or
twisted will not provide the
protection needed in a crash.
The person wearing the belt could
be seriously injured. After raising
the rear seatback, always check
to be sure that the safety belts
are properly routed and attached,
and are not twisted.
4. Reconnect the center safety belt
latch plate to the mini buckle.
Make sure the safety belt is not
twisted.
5. Push and pull on the latch plate
to be sure it is secure.
When the seatback is not in use,
it should be kept in the upright,
locked position.
1-10 Seats and Restraint System

Safety Belts
Safety Belts: They Are
for Everyone
This section of the manual describes
how to use safety belts properly.
It also describes some things not to
do with safety belts.
{CAUTION
Do not let anyone ride where a
safety belt cannot be worn
properly. In a crash, if you or your
passenger(s) are not wearing
safety belts, the injuries can be
much worse. You can hit things
inside the vehicle harder or be
ejected from the vehicle. You and
your passenger(s) can be seriously
injured or killed. In the same crash,
you might not be, if you are
buckled up. Always fasten your
safety belt, and check that your
passenger(s) are restrained
properly too.
{CAUTION
It is extremely dangerous to ride
in a cargo area, inside or outside
of a vehicle. In a collision, people
riding in these areas are more
likely to be seriously injured or
killed. Do not allow people to ride
in any area of your vehicle that is
not equipped with seats and
safety belts. Be sure everyone in
your vehicle is in a seat and using
a safety belt properly.
{CAUTION
People riding on the tailgate
(if equipped) can easily lose their
balance and fall even when the
vehicle is operated at low speeds.
Falling from a moving vehicle may
result in serious injuries or death.This vehicle has indicators as a
reminder to buckle the safety belts.
SeeSafety Belt Reminders on
page 3-24.
In most states and in all Canadian
provinces, the law requires
wearing safety belts. Here is why:
You never know if you will be in a
crash. If you do have a crash, you do
not know if it will be a serious one.
A few crashes are mild, and some
crashes can be so serious that even
buckled up, a person would not
survive. But most crashes are in
between. In many of them, people
who buckle up can survive and
sometimes walk away. Without
safety belts they could have been
badly hurt or killed.
After more than 40 years of safety
belts in vehicles, the facts are clear.
In most crashes buckling up does
matter... a lot!
Seats and Restraint System 1-11

Why Safety Belts Work
When you ride in or on anything,
you go as fast as it goes.
Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose
it is just a seat on wheels.Put someone on it.
Get it up to speed. Then stop the
vehicle. The rider does not stop.
1-12 Seats and Restraint System

The person keeps going until
stopped by something. In a real
vehicle, it could be the windshield...or the instrument panel... or the safety belts!
With safety belts, you slow down as
the vehicle does. You get more time
to stop. You stop over more distance,
and your strongest bones take the
forces. That is why safety belts make
such good sense.
Seats and Restraint System 1-13

Questions and Answers About
Safety Belts
Q:
Will I be trapped in the vehicle
after a crash if I am wearing a
safety belt?
A:Youcouldbe — whether you are
wearing a safety belt or not. But
your chance of being conscious
during and after an accident, so
youcanunbuckle and get out, is
muchgreater if you are belted.
And you can unbuckle a safety
belt, even if you are upside down.
Q:If my vehicle has airbags,
why should I have to wear
safety belts?
A:Airbags are supplemental
systems only; so they workwith
safety belts — not instead of
them. Whether or not an airbag is
provided, all occupants still have
to buckle up to get the most
protection. That is true not only in
frontal collisions, but especially
in side and other collisions.
Q:If I am a good driver, and I
never drive far from home, why
should I wear safety belts?
A:You may be an excellent driver,
but if you are in a crash — even
one that is not your fault — you
and your passenger(s) can be
hurt. Being a good driver does not
protect you from things beyond
your control, such as bad drivers.
Most accidents occur within
25 miles (40 km) of home. And
the greatest number of serious
injuries and deaths occur at
speeds of less than 40 mph
(65 km/h).
Safety belts are for everyone.
How to Wear Safety Belts
Properly
This section is only for people of
adult size.
Be aware that there are special
things to know about safety
belts and children. And there are
different rules for smaller children
and infants. If a child will be riding in
the vehicle, seeOlder Children on
page 1-25orInfants and Young
Children on page 1-28. Follow those
rules for everyone’s protection.
It is very important for all occupants
to buckle up. Statistics show that
unbelted people are hurt more often
in crashes than those who are
wearing safety belts.
Occupants who are not buckled up
can be thrown out of the vehicle in a
crash. And they can strike others
in the vehicle who are wearing
safety belts.
1-14 Seats and Restraint System

First, before you or your
passenger(s) wear a safety belt,
there is important information
you should know.
Sit up straight and always keep your
feet on the oor in front of you. The
lap part of the belt should be worn
low and snug on the hips, justtouching the thighs. In a crash, this
applies force to the strong pelvic
bones and you would be less likely to
slide under the lap belt. If you slid
under it, the belt would apply force
on your abdomen. This could
cause serious or even fatal injuries.
The shoulder belt should go over
the shoulder and across the chest.
These parts of the body are best able
to take belt restraining forces.
The shoulder belt locks if there is a
sudden stop or crash.Q:What is wrong with this?
A:The shoulder belt is too loose.
It will not give as much
protection this way.
{CAUTION
You can be seriously hurt if your
shoulder belt is too loose. In a
crash, you would move forward
too much, which could increase
injury. The shoulder belt should t
snugly against your body.
Seats and Restraint System 1-15

Q:What is wrong with this?
A:The lap belt is too loose. It will not
give nearly as much protection
this way.
{CAUTION
You can be seriously hurt if your
lap belt is too loose. In a crash,
you could slide under the lap belt
and apply force on your abdomen.
This could cause serious or even
fatal injuries. The lap belt should
be worn low and snug on the
hips, just touching the thighs.
Q:What is wrong with this?
A:The belt is buckled in the wrong
buckle.
1-16 Seats and Restraint System

{CAUTION
You can be seriously injured if
your belt is buckled in the wrong
place like this. In a crash, the belt
would go up over your abdomen.
The belt forces would be there,
not on the pelvic bones. This
could cause serious internal
injuries. Always buckle your belt
into the buckle nearest you.
Q:What is wrong with this?
A:The belt is over an armrest.
{CAUTION
You can be seriously injured if
your belt goes over an armrest
like this. The belt would be much
too high. In a crash, you can slide
under the belt. The belt force
would then be applied on the
abdomen, not on the pelvic
bones, and that could cause
serious or fatal injuries. Be sure
the belt goes under the armrests.
Seats and Restraint System 1-17