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
Notice:When replacing the
battery, do not touch any of the
circuitry on the transmitter. Static
from your body could damage
the transmitter.
To replace the battery:
1. Separate the transmitter with a
at, thin object inserted into the
notch on the side.
2. Remove the old battery. Do not
use a metal object.
3. Insert the new battery. Replace
with a CR2032 or equivalent
battery.
4. Snap the transmitter back
together.Doors and Locks
Door Locks
{CAUTION
Unlocked doors can be dangerous.
Passengers, especially
children, can easily open the
doors and fall out of a moving
vehicle. When a door is
locked, the handle will not
open it. You increase the
chance of being thrown out of
the vehicle in a crash if the
doors are not locked. So, wear
safety belts properly and lock
the doors whenever you drive.
(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
Young children who get into
unlocked vehicles may be
unable to get out. A child can
be overcome by extreme heat
and can suffer permanent
injuries or even death from
heat stroke. Always lock your
vehicle whenever you leave it.
Outsiders can easily enter
through an unlocked door
when you slow down or stop
your vehicle. Locking your
doors can help prevent this
from happening.
There are several ways to lock and
unlock the vehicle.
From the outside, use the key in the
driver’s door or use the Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter.
Features and Controls 2-5
To open a rear door when the
security lock is set, unlock the door
and open the door from the outside.
To disengage a security lock:
1. Open one of the rear doors.
2. Use the ignition key to turn the
lock to the vertical position.
3. Close the door.
4. Repeat these steps on the other
rear door.
Lockout Protection
This feature protects against locking
the key in the vehicle when it is
in the ignition.
A chime sounds as an alert to
indicate that the key has been left in
the ignition. When the power door
lock switch is pressed, a door is
open, and the key is in the ignition
all of the doors lock and then
the driver’s door unlocks.
Tailgate
{CAUTION
It is extremely dangerous to ride
on the tailgate, even when the
vehicle is operated at low speeds.
People riding on the tailgate can
easily lose their balance and fall
in response to vehicle maneuvers.
Falling from a moving vehicle may
result in serious injuries or death.
Do not allow people to ride on the
tailgate. Be sure everyone in your
vehicle is in a seat and using a
safety belt properly.Open the tailgate by pulling up on
the outside handle while pulling
the tailgate down.
When putting the tailgate up,
be sure it latches securely.
Features and Controls 2-7