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 the lap/
shoulder belt.
The following pages give instructions
on how to check proper seat belt fit,
what kind of booster seat to use if
one is needed, and important
precautions for a child who must sit
in front.
Allowing a child age 12 or under
to sit in front can result in injury
or death if the passenger's front
airbag inflates.
If a 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.Checking Seat Belt Fit
To determine if a lap/shoulder belt
properly fits a child, have the child
put on the seat belt, then askyourself:
1. Does the child sit all the way back
against the seat?
2. Do the child's knees bend comfortably over the edge of the seat?
CONTINUED
Protecting Larger Children
49
Driver and Passenger Safety
Table of Contents
3. Does the shoulder belt crossbetween the child's neck and arm?
4. Is the lap part of the belt as low as possible, touching the child's thighs?
5. Will the child be able to stay seated like this for 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. Using a Booster Seat
A child who has outgrown a forward-
facing child seat should ride in a
back seat and use a booster seat until
the lap/shoulder belt fits them
properly without the booster.Some states, Canadian provinces and
territories 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, provinces and
territories where you intend to drive.
Booster seats can be high-back or
low-back. Whichever style you select,
make sure the booster seat meets
federal safety standards (see page
35) and that you follow the booster
seat maker's instructions.
Protecting Larger Children
50
Table of Contents
If a child who uses a booster seat
must ride in front, move the vehicle
seat as far back as possible and be
sure the child is wearing the seat beltproperly.
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.When Can a Larger Child Sit inFront
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 front airbag
inflates in a moderate to severe
frontal 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.
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 seriousinjuries.Of course, children vary widely. And
while age may be one indicator of
when a child can safely ride in front,
there are other important factors you
should consider.
Physical Size
Physically, a child must be large
enough for the lap/shoulder belt to
properly fit (see pages 14 and 49). If
the seat belt does not fit properly,
with or without the child sitting on a
booster seat, the child should not sit
in front.
Maturity
To safely ride in front, a child must
be able to follow the rules, including
sitting properly, and wearing the seat
belt properly throughout a ride.
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Protecting Larger Children
51
Driver and Passenger Safety
Table of Contents
If you decide that a child can safely
ride up front, be sure to:● Carefully read the owner's manual,
and make sure you understand all
seat belt instructions and all safety information.
● 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 floor.
● Check that the child's seat belt is
properly and securely positioned.
● Supervise the child. Even mature
children sometimes need to be
reminded to fasten the seat belts
or sit properly. Additional Safety Precautions
●
Do not let a child wear a seat belt
across the neck.
This could result
in serious neck injuries during acrash.
●
Do not let a child put the shoulder part of a seat belt behind the back
or under the arm.
This could cause
very serious injuries during a
crash. It also increases the chance
that the child will slide under the
belt in a crash and be injured.
●
Two children should never use the same seat belt.
If they do, they
could be very seriously injured in acrash. ●
Do not put any accessories on a
seat belt.
Devices intended to
improve a child's comfort or
reposition the shoulder part of a
seat belt can make the belt less
effective and increase the chance
of serious injury in a crash.
Protecting Larger Children
52
Table of Contents
This section gives information about
the controls and displays that
contribute to the daily operation of
your vehicle. All the essential
controls are within easy reach.Control Locations..........................
58
Instrument Panel ..........................
59
Instrument Panel Indicators ..........
60
Gauges ..........................................
68
Trip Meter ................................
69
Instant Fuel Economy ...............
70
Average Fuel Economy .............
70
Odometer ..................................
70
Fuel Gauge ...............................
70
Check Fuel Cap Indicator .........
70
Maintenance Minder ................
71
Controls Near the Steering
Wheel .......................................
72
Windshield Wipers and Washers ................................
73
Windshield Wipers ...................
73
Rear Window Wiper and
Washer .................................
73
Turn Signal and Headlights ..........
74
Headlights ....................................
75
Instrument Panel Brightness ........
76
Hazard Warning Button ................
76
Rear Window Defogger .................
76
Steering Wheel Adjustments .........
77Keys and Locks
............................. 78
Immobilizer System ......................
79
Ignition Switch ..............................
80
Door Locks ...................................
81
Power Door Locks ....................
81
Childproof Door Locks ..............
82
Auto Door Locking/ Unlocking .............................
83
Auto Door Locking ...................
83
Auto Door Unlocking ................
85
Tailgate .........................................
88
Remote Transmitter ......................
90
Seats .............................................
93
Power Windows ..........................
100
Mirrors .......................................
101
Parking Brake .............................
102
Interior Convenience Items .........
104
Lower Glove Box ....................
105
Upper Glove Box .....................
105
Beverage Holders ...................
106
Seat Under Box .......................
106
Accessory Power Socket .........
106
Sun Visor ................................
106
Interior Lights .............................
107
Instruments and Controls
57
Instruments and Controls
The lock tab on each passenger's
door locks and unlocks only that
door. Pushing forward the lock tab
on the driver's door unlocks only that
door. To unlock only the driver's
door from the outside, turn the key
and release it. If you turn it again, the
remaining doors and the tailgateunlock.
To lock a passenger's door when
getting out of the vehicle, pull the
lock tab rearward and close the door.
To lock the driver's door, remove
key from ignition switch and pull the
lock tab rearward or push the top of
the master door lock switch, then
close the door.Lockout Prevention
If you forget and leave the key in the
ignition switch, lockout prevention
will not allow you to lock the driver's
door. With any door open and the
key in the ignition switch, locking
with master door lock switch is
disabled. If the driver's door is
closed, the lock tab on the driver's
door is not disabled. Pulling the
driver's lock tab rearward will lock all
doors. If you try to lock an open
driver's door by pulling the lock tab
rearward, the driver's door lock tab
pops out and unlocks the driver'sdoor.Childproof Door Locks
The childproof door locks are
designed to prevent children seated
in the rear from accidentally opening
the rear doors. Each rear door has a
lock lever near the edge. With the
lever in the LOCK position (lever is
down), the door cannot be opened
from the inside regardless of the
position of the lock tab. To open the
door, pull the lock tab forward and
use the outside door handle.
LEVER
Unlock
Lock
Door Locks
82
Table of Contents
To unlatch the detachable anchor,
insert the latch plate into the slot on
the side of the anchor buckle. Store
the detachable anchor and seat belt
latch plates in the retractor housing.Power Windows
Turn the ignition switch to the ON
(II) position to raise or lower any
window. To open a window, push the
switch down and hold it. Release the
switch when you want the window to
stop. Pull back on the switch and
hold it to close the window.
The windows will operate for up to 10
minutes after you turn off the ignition
switch. Opening either front door
cancels this function.
Closing a power window on
someone's hands or fingers can
cause serious injury.
Make sure your passengers are
away from the windows before
closing them.
When you push the MAIN switch in,
the switch is off, and the passenger
windows cannot be raised or
lowered. To cancel this feature, push
on the switch again to get it to pop
out. Keep the MAIN switch off when
you have children in the vehicle so
they do not injure themselves by
operating the windows
unintentionally.
LATCH PLATE
ANCHOR BUCKLE
DRIVER'S WINDOW SWITCH
MAIN SWITCH
Seats, Power Windows
100
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