2014 DODGE DART belt

Seat Belts And Pregnant Women
We recommend that pregnant women use the seat belts
throughout their pregnancy. Keeping the mother safe is
the best way to keep the baby safe.
Pregnant women should wear the lap part of the belt
across the thighs and as snug across the hips as possible.
Keep the belt low so that it does not come across the
abdomen. That way the strong bones of the hips will take
the force if there is a collision.
Seat Belt Extender
If a seat belt is too short even when fully extended and
when the adjustable upper shoulder belt anchorage (if so
equipped) is in its lowest position, your authorized
dealer can provide you with a seat belt extender. This
extender should be used only if the existing belt is not
long enough. When it is not required, remove the ex-
tender and store it.
WARNING!
Using a seat belt extender when not needed can increase
the risk of injury in a collision. Only use when the seat
belt is not long enough when it is worn low and snug,
and in the recommended seating positions. Remove and
store the extender when not needed.
Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) — Air Bags
This vehicle has Advanced Front Air Bags for both the
driver and front passenger as a supplement to the seat
belt restraint systems. The driver’s Advanced Front Air
Bag is mounted in the center of the steering wheel. The
passenger’s Advanced Front Air Bag is mounted in the
instrument panel, above the glove compartment. The
words SRS AIRBAG are embossed on the air bag covers.
In addition, the vehicle is equipped with a Supplemental
Driver Side Knee Air Bag mounted in the instrument
panel below the steering column.
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 61

NOTE:The Driver and Passenger Advanced Front Air
Bags are certified to new Federal regulations. The Advanced Front Air Bags have a multistage inflator
design. This allows the air bag to have different rates of
inflation based on several factors, including the severity
and type of collision.
This vehicle may be equipped with driver and/or front
passenger seat track position sensors that may adjust the
inflation rate of the Advanced Front Air Bags based upon
seat position.
This vehicle may be equipped with a driver and/or front
passenger seat belt buckle switch that detects whether
the driver or front passenger seat belt is fastened. The
seat belt buckle switch may adjust the inflation rate of the
Advanced Front Air Bags.
This vehicle may be equipped with a front passenger
occupant classification system (OCS) that may adjust the
inflation rate of the Passenger Advanced Front Air Bag
based upon occupant weight.
Advanced Front Air Bag And Knee Bolster Locations
1 — Driver And Passenger
Advanced Front Air Bags
2 — Supplemental Driver And
Passenger Side Knee Air Bags/
Knee Bolsters
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•Front and Side Impact Sensors
• Front Seat Belt Pretensioners, Seat Belt Buckle Switch,
and
• Occupant Classification System (OCS)
Advanced Front Air Bag Features
The Advanced Front Air Bag system has multistage
driver and front passenger air bags. This system provides
output appropriate to the severity and type of collision as
determined by the Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC),
which may receive information from the front impact
sensors.
The first stage inflator is triggered immediately during an
impact that requires air bag deployment. This low output
is used in less severe collisions. A higher energy output is
used for more severe collisions.
WARNING!
•No objects should be placed over or near the air
bag on the instrument panel, because any such
objects could cause harm if the vehicle is in a
collision severe enough to cause the air bag to
inflate.
• Do not put anything on or around the air bag
covers or attempt to open them manually. You may
damage the air bags and you could be injured
because the air bags may no longer be functional.
The protective covers for the air bag cushions are
designed to open only when the air bags are
inflating.
• Do not drill, cut or tamper with the knee bolster in
any way.
•
Do not mount any accessories to the knee bolster such
as alarm lights, stereos, citizen band radios, etc.
64 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

The system includes side impact sensors that are cali-
brated to deploy the side air bags during impacts that
require air bag occupant protection.
SAB and SABIC air bags are a supplement to the seat belt
restraint system.
Occupants, including children who are up against or very
close to SABIC or SAB air bags can be seriously injured or
killed.
Occupants, especially children, should not lean on or
sleep against the door, side windows, or area where the
SABIC or SAB air bags inflate, even if they are in an
infant or child restraint.
Always sit upright as possible with your back against the
seat back, use the seat belts properly, and use the
appropriate sized child restraint, infant restraint or
booster seat recommended for the size and weight of the
child.WARNING!
•Your vehicle is equipped with left and right
SABIC, do not stack luggage or other cargo up high
enough to block the location of the SABIC. The
area where the side curtain air bag is located
should remain free from any obstructions.
• Do not use accessory seat covers or place objects
between you and the SAB; the performance could
be adversely affected and/or objects could be
pushed into you, causing serious injury.
• Your vehicle is equipped with SABIC air bags, do
not have any accessory items installed which will
alter the roof, including adding a sunroof to your
vehicle. Do not add roof racks that require perma-
nent attachments (bolts or screws) for installation
on the vehicle roof. Do not drill into the roof of the
vehicle for any reason.
66 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Knee Impact Bolsters
The Knee Impact Bolsters help protect the knees of the
driver and front passenger, and position the front occu-
pants for the best interaction with the Advanced Front
Air Bags.
Along with seat belts and pretensioners, Advanced Front
Air Bags work with the Supplemental Driver and Pas-
senger Side Knee Air Bags and the knee bolsters to
provide improved protection for the driver and front
passenger. Side air bags also work with seat belts to
improve occupant protection.
Air Bag Deployment Sensors And Controls
Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC)
The ORC is part of a Federally regulated safety system
required for this vehicle.
The ORC determines if deployment of the front and/or
side air bags in a frontal or side collision is required.Based on the impact sensor’s signals, a central electronic
ORC deploys the Advanced Front Air Bags, SABIC air
bags, SABs, Supplemental Driver Side Knee Air Bag,
Supplemental Passenger Side Knee Air Bag, and front
seat belt pretensioners, as required, depending on several
factors, including the severity and type of impact.
Advanced Front Air Bags and Supplemental Driver and
Front Passenger Knee Air Bags are designed to provide
additional protection by supplementing the seat belts in
certain frontal collisions depending on several factors,
including the severity and type of collision. Advanced
Front Air Bags and Supplemental Driver and Front
Passenger Knee Air Bags are not expected to reduce the
risk of injury in rear, side, or rollover collisions.The Advanced Front Air Bags and Supplemental Driver and
Front Passenger Knee Air Bags will not deploy in all frontal
collisions, including some that may produce substantial
vehicle damage — for example, some pole collisions, truck
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 67

underrides, and angle offset collisions. On the other hand,
depending on the type and location of impact, Advanced
Front Air Bags and Supplemental Driver and Front Passen-
ger Knee Air Bags may deploy in crashes with little vehicle
front-end damage but that produce a severe initial decelera-
tion.
The side air bags will not deploy in all side collisions.
Side air bag deployment will depend on the severity and
type of collision.
Because air bag sensors measure vehicle deceleration
over time, vehicle speed and damage by themselves are
not good indicators of whether or not an air bag should
have deployed.
Seat belts are necessary for your protection in all colli-
sions, and also are needed to help keep you in position,
away from an inflating air bag.The ORC monitors the readiness of the electronic parts of
the air bag system whenever the ignition is in the START
or ON/RUN position. If the ignition is in the OFF
position or in the ACC position, the air bag system is not
on and the air bags will not inflate.
The ORC contains a backup power supply system that
may deploy the air bags even if the battery loses power or
it becomes disconnected prior to deployment.
Also, the ORC turns on the Air Bag Warning
Light in the instrument panel for approxi-
mately four to eight seconds for a self-check
when the ignition is first turned on. After the
self-check, the Air Bag Warning Light will turn off. If the
ORC detects a malfunction in any part of the system, it
turns on the Air Bag Warning Light, either momentarily
or continuously. A single chime will sound if the light
comes on again after initial startup.
68 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

The OCM works with the OCS sensor to determine the
front passenger seat occupant’s most probable classifica-
tion. The OCS sensor estimates the weight on the front
passenger seat and where that weight is located. The
OCM communicates the classification status to the ORC.
The ORC uses the classification to determine whether the
passenger Advanced Front Air Bag inflation rate should
be modified.
In order for the OCS to operate as designed, it is
important for the front passenger to be seated properly
and properly wearing the seat belt. Properly seated
passengers are:
•Sitting upright
• Facing forward •
Sitting in the center of the seat with their feet comfort-
ably on or near the floor
• Sitting with their back against the seat back and the
seat back in an upright position
Seated Properly
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 71

WARNING!
Occupants in the front passenger seat sitting improp-
erly may cause the OCS to not classify the passen-
ger ’s weight accurately. This may result in serious
injury or death in a collision. Always wear your seat
belt and sit properly, with the seat back in an upright
position, your back against the seat back, sitting
upright, facing forward, in the center of the seat, with
your feet comfortably on or near the floor. Do not
carry or hold any objects (e.g., backpacks, boxes, etc.)
while seated in the front passenger seat. Holding an
object may cause the OCS to not classify the passen-
ger ’s weight accurately, which may result in serious
injury or death in a collision.The OCS may not classify the front passenger properly if:
•
The front passenger ’s weight is transferred to another
part of the vehicle (like the door, arm rest or instru-
ment panel)
• The front passenger leans forward, sideways or turns
around
• The front passenger seatback is not in the full upright
position
• The front passenger carries or holds an object while
seated (e.g., backpack, box, etc.)
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