130 Driving Saf ely
Proper adjustment of head restraints
Correctly adjusted head restraints are an im
portant part of your vehicle's occupant re
straint system and can help to reduce the risk
of injuries in accident situations.
Fig . 14 4 Head restr ain t: vi ewed fro m the front
The head restraints must be correctly adjust
ed to achieve the best protection.
11> For adjustable head restraints: adjust the
head restraint so the upper edge is as even
as possible with the top of your head. If that
is not possible, try to adjust the head re
stra int so that it is as close to th is position
as possible ¢
fig. 144.
11> If there is a passenger on the rear center
seat ing pos it ion, slide the center head re
stra int upward at least to the next notch .
Adjusting head restraints¢
page 53.
A WARNING , _
All seats are equipped with head re
straints. Dr iv ing without head restraints or
w ith head restra ints that are not properly
adjusted increases the risk of ser ious or fa
tal nec k injury dramat ic al ly. To help reduce
t he risk of in ju ry:
- Always drive with the head restraints in
place and proper ly adjusted.
- E very person in the veh icle must have a
properly adj usted head restra int.
- Always make su re each pe rson in the ve
hicle proper ly adjusts the ir head re
st rain t. Ad just the head restrain t so the
upper edge is as even as possib le with
the top of your head. If that is not possi
ble, try to adjust the head restraint so that it is as close to this posit
ion as pos
sible.
- Never attempt to adjust head restraint
while driving. If you have driven off and
must adjust the driver headrest for any
reason, first stop the vehicle safely be
fore attempting to adjust the head re
straint .
- Chil dren must a lways be properly re
strained in a child restraint that is appro
priate for their age and size ¢
page 171.
Examples of improper seating positions
The occupant res traint sys tem can only re
duce the risk of injury if vehicle occupants are
properly seated .
Improper seating positions can cause serious
injury or death . Safety belts can only work
when they are properly positioned on the
body . Improper seating positions reduce the
effectiveness of safety belts and w ill even in
c rease the r is k of injury and dea th by moving
the safety be lt to cri tical areas o f the body.
Improper seating positions a lso increase the
risk of serio us injury and death when an air
bag deploys and strikes an occupant who is
not in the proper sea ting position. A dr iver is
responsible for the sa fety of all veh icle occu
pant s and espec ially for children . Therefore :
11> Never allow anyone to assume an incorrect
seating position when the vehicle is being
used ¢_& .
The following bulletins list on ly some samp le
positions that will increase the risk of serious
injury and death. Our hope is that these exam
ples will make you more aware of seat ing po
s itions that are dangerous .
Therefore, whenever the vehicle is
moving:
- never stand up i n the vehicle
- never stand on the seats
- never kneel on the seats
- never ride wit h the seatback reclined
- never lie down o n the rear seat
- neve r lean up against the instrument panel ..,_
