2009 TOYOTA AVALON Owners Manual

105
1-7. Safety information
1
Before driving
AVALON_U_OM41430U
CAUTION
■
Child restraint precautions
● For effective protection in automobile accidents and sudden stops, a child
must be properly restrained, using a seat belt or child restraint system
depending on the age and size of the child. Holding a child in your arms is
not a substitute for a child restraint system. In an accident, the child can be
crushed against the windshield, or between you and the vehicle’s interior.
● Toyota strongly urges the use of a proper child restraint system that con-
forms to the size of the child, installed on the rear seat. According to acci-
dent statistics, the child is safer when properly restrained in the rear seat
than in the front seat.
● Never install a rear-facing child restraint system on the front passenger
seat even if “AIR BAG OFF” indicator light is illuminated. In the event of an
accident, the force of the rapid inflation of the front passenger airbag can
cause death or serious injury to the child if the rear-facing child restraint
system is installed on the front passenger seat.
● A forward-facing child restraint system may be installed on the front pas-
senger seat only when it is unavoidable. A child restraint system that
requires a top tether strap should not be used in the front passenger seat
since there is no top tether strap anchor for the front passenger seat.
Adjust the seatback as upright as possible and always move the seat as
far back as possible even if “AIR BAG OFF” indicator light is illuminated,
because the front passenger airbag could inflate with considerable speed
and force. Otherwise, the child may be killed or seriously injured.
● Do not use the seat belt extender when installing a child restraint system
on the front or rear passenger seat. If installing a child restraint system
with the seat belt extender connected to the seat belt, the seat belt will not
securely hold the child restraint system, which could cause death or seri-
ous injury to the child or other passengers in the event of collision.

106 1-7. Safety information
AVALON_U_OM41430U
CAUTION
■Child restraint precautions
● Do not allow the child to lean his/her head or any part of his/her body
against the door or the area of the seat, front pillar or roof side rail from
which the side airbags or curtain shield airbags deploy even if the child is
seated in the child restraint system. It is dangerous if the side airbags and
curtain shield airbags inflate, and the impact could cause death or serious
injury to the child.
● Make sure you have complied with all installation instructions provided by
the child restraint manufacturer and that the system is properly secured. If
it is not secured properly, it may cause death or serious injury to the child
in the event of a sudden stop or accident.
■ Child restraint lock function belt precaution
Do not allow children to play with the child restraint lock function belt. If the
belt becomes twisted around a child’s neck, it will not be possible to pull the
belt out leading to choking or other serious injuries that result in death. If this
occurs and the buckle cannot be unfastened, scissors should be used to cut
the belt.
■ When the child restrain t system is not in use
● Keep the child restraint system properly secured on the seat even if it is
not in use. Do not store the restraint unsecured in the passenger compart-
ment.
● If it is necessary to detach the child restraint system, remove it from the
vehicle or store it securely in the trunk. This will prevent it from injuring
passengers in the event of a sudden stop or accident.

107
1
1-7. Safety information
Before driving
AVALON_U_OM41430U
Installing child restraints
Follow the child restraint system manufacturer’s instructions. Firmly
secure child restraints to the ou tboard rear seats using the LATCH
anchors or a seat belt. Attach the top tether strap when installing a
child restraint.
The lap/shoulder belt can be used if your child restraint system is
not compatible with the LATCH (Low er Anchors and Tethers for Chil-
dren) system.
Child restraint LATCH anchors
LATCH anchors are provided
for the outboard rear seats.
(Buttons displaying the loca-
tion of the anchors are
attached to the seats.)
Seat belts equipped with a
child restraint locking mecha-
nism (ALR/ELR belts except
driver’s seat belt) ( P. 59)
Anchor bracket
(for top tether strap)
Anchor brackets are provided
for all rear seats.

108 1-7. Safety information
AVALON_U_OM41430U
Installation with LATCH systemAdjust the seatback as leaned as
possible.
Widen the gap between the seat cushion and seatback
slightly.
Type A
Latch the hooks of the lower
straps onto the LATCH anchors.
STEP1As leaned
as possible
STEP2
STEP3
Canada only

109
1-7. Safety information
1
Before driving
AVALON_U_OM41430U
If the child restraint has a top te
ther strap, the top tether strap
should be latched onto the top tether anchors.
For owners in Canada:
The symbol on a child restraint system indicates the presence of a
lower connector system.
Type B Latch the buckles onto the
LATCH anchors.
If the child restraint has a top te ther strap, the top tether strap
should be latched onto the top tether anchors.
For owners in Canada:
The symbol on a child restraint system indicates the presence of a
lower connector system.
STEP4
Canada only
STEP3
STEP4

110 1-7. Safety information
AVALON_U_OM41430U
Installing child restraints using a seat belt (child restraint lock
function belt)
■ Rear-facing Infant seat/convertible seat
Place the child restraint system
on the rear seat facing the rear
of the vehicle.
Run the seat belt through the
child restraint system and insert
the plate into the buckle. Make
sure that the belt is not twisted.
Fully extend the shoulder belt
and then allow it to retract
slightly in order to activate the
ALR lock mode.
Lock mode allows the seat belt to
retract only.
STEP1
STEP2
STEP3

111
1-7. Safety information
1
Before driving
AVALON_U_OM41430U
While pushing the child restraint
system down into the rear seat,
allow the shoulder belt to retract
until the child seat is securely in
place.
After the shoulder belt has
retracted to a point where there is
no slack in the belt, pull the belt to
check that it cannot be extended.
■
Forward-facing Convertible seat
Place the child restraint system
on the seat facing the front of the
vehicle.
Run the seat belt through the
child restraint system and insert
the plate into the buckle. Make
sure that the belt is not twisted.
STEP4
STEP1
STEP2

112 1-7. Safety information
AVALON_U_OM41430UFully extend the shoulder strap
and then allow it to retract
slightly into the ALR lock mode.
Lock mode allows the seat belt to
retract only.
While pushing the child restraint
system into the rear seat, allow
the shoulder belt to retract until
the child restraint system is
securely in place.
After the shoulder belt has
retracted to a point where there is
no slack in the belt, pull the belt to
check that it cannot be extended.
If the child restraint has a top te
ther strap, the top tether strap
should be latched onto the top tether strap anchors. ( P. 114)
STEP3
STEP4
STEP4STEP5