2017 Acura MDX Owner's Manual

56
Safe Driving
Child Safety
Protecting Child Passengers
Each year, many children are injured or killed in vehicle crashes because they are
either unrestrained or not properly res trained. In fact, vehicle crashes are the
number one cause of death of children ages 12 and under.
To reduce the number of child deaths and in juries, every state, Canadian province
and territory requires that infants and childre n be properly restrained when they ride
in a vehicle.
Children should sit properly restrained in a rear seat. This is because:
• An inflating front or side airbag can injure
or kill a child sitting in the front seat.
• A child in the front seat is more likely to
interfere with the driver ’s ability to safely
control the vehicle.
• Statistics show that ch ildren of all sizes and
ages are safer when they are properly
restrained in a rear seat.1 Protecting Child Passengers
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
and Transport Canada recommend that all children
ages 12 and under be properl y restrained in a rear
seat. Some states or provin ces/territories have laws
restricting where ch ildren may ride.
3WARNING
Children who are unrestrained or
improperly restrained can be seriously
injured or killed in a crash.
Any child too small for a seat belt should be
properly restrained in a child seat. A larger
child should be properly restrained with a
seat belt, using a booster seat if necessary.
17 ACURA MDX-31TZ56300.book 56 ページ ２０１６年５月１３日　金曜日　午後７時４６分

57
uuChild Safety uProtecting Child Passengers
Safe Driving
• Any child who is too small to wear a seat belt correctly must be restrained in an
approved child seat that is properly secured to the vehicle using either the seat
belt or the lower anchors of the LATCH system.
• Never hold a child on your lap because it is impossible to protect them in the
event of a collision.
• Never put a seat belt over yourself and a child. During a crash, the belt would
likely press deep into the child and cause serious or fatal injuries.
• Never let two children use the same seat belt. Both children could be very
seriously injured in a crash.
• Do not allow children to operate the doors, windows or seat adjustments.
• Do not leave children in the vehicle unatte nded, especially in hot weather when
the inside of the vehicle can get hot enough to kill them. They could also activate
vehicle controls causing it to move unexpectedly.1 Protecting Child Passengers
To deactivate a lockable retractor, release the buckle
and allow the seat belt to wind up all the way.
To remind you of the pa ssenger’s front airbag
hazards and child safety, your vehicle has warning
labels on the dashboard (U.S. models) and on the
front visors. Please read and follow the instructions
on these labels. 2 Safety Labels P. 72
3WARNING
Allowing a child to play with a seat belt or
wrap one around their neck can result in
serious injury or death.
Instruct children not to play with any seat
belt and make sure any unused seat belt a
child can reach is buckled, fully retracted,
and locked.
17 ACURA MDX-31TZ56300.book 57 ページ ２０１６年５月１３日　金曜日　午後７時４６分

58
uuChild Safety uSafety of Infants and Small Children
Safe Driving
Safety of Infants and Small Children
An infant must be properly restrained in a rear-facing, reclining child seat until the
infant reaches the seat manufacturer’s weig ht or height limit for the seat, and the
infant is at least one year old.
■Positioning a rear-facing child seat
Child seats must be placed and secured in a
rear seating position.
When properly installed, a rear-facing child seat may prevent the driver or a front
passenger from moving their seat all the way back, or from locking their seat-back
in the desired position.
It can also interfere with pr oper operation of the passenger’s advanced front airbag
system.
2 Airbags P. 41
If this occurs, we recommend that you install the child seat directly behind the front
passenger’s seat, move the seat as far fo rward as needed, and leave it unoccupied.
Or, you may wish to get a sm aller rear-facing child seat.
■Protecting Infants1Protecting Infants
Many experts recommend us e of a rear-facing seat
for a child up to two years old if the child’s height and
weight are appropriate for a rear-facing seat.
Rear-facing child seats should never be installed in a
forward facing position.
Always refer to the child seat manufacturer’s
instructions before installation.
3WARNING
Placing a rear-facing child seat in the front
seat can result in serious injury or death
during a crash.
Always place a rear-fac ing child seat in the
rear seat, not the front.
17 ACURA MDX-31TZ56300.book 58 ページ ２０１６年５月１３日　金曜日　午後７時４６分

Continued59
uuChild Safety uSafety of Infants and Small Children
Safe DrivingIf a child is at least one year old and has exceeded the weight and height limitations
of a rearward facing child seat, the child should be properly restrained in a firmly
secured forward facing child se at until they exceed the weight and height limitations
for the forward facing child seat.
■Forward-facing child seat placement
We strongly recommend placing a forward-
facing child seat in a rear seating position.
Placing a forward-facing child seat in th e front seat can be hazardous, even with
advanced front airbags that automatically turn the passeng er’s front airbag off. A
rear seat is the safest place for a child.
■Protecting Smaller Children1 Protecting Smaller Children
Educate yourself about th e laws and regulations
regarding child seat use wh ere you are driving, and
follow the child seat manufacturer’s instructions.
3WARNING
Placing a forward-facing child seat in the
front seat can result in serious injury or
death if the front airbag inflates.
If you must place a forward-facing child
seat in front, move the vehicle seat as far
back as possible, and properly restrain the
child.
17 ACURA MDX-31TZ56300.book 59 ページ ２０１６年５月１３日　金曜日　午後７時４６分

uuChild Safety uSafety of Infants and Small Children
60
Safe DrivingMost child seats are LATCH-compatible (L ower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren).
Some have a rigid-type conn ector while others have a flexible-type connector. Both
are equally easy to use. Some existing and previously owned child seats can only be
installed using the seat belt. Whichever type you choose, follow the child seat
manufacturer’s use and care instructions including recommended expiration dates
as well as the instructions in this manual. Proper installation is key to maximizing
your child’s safety.
In seating positions and vehicles not equipped with LATCH, a LATCH-compatible
child seat can be installed using the seat belt and a top tether for added security.
This is because all child seats are required to be designed so that they can be secured
with the seat belt. In addition, the child seat manufacturer may advise that a seat
belt be used to attach a LATCH-compatib le seat once a child reaches a specified
weight. Please read the child seat ow ner’s manual for proper installation
instructions.
■Important consideration when selecting a child seat
Make sure the child seat meets th e following three requirements:
• The child seat is the correct type and size for the child.
• The child seat is the correct type for the seating position.
• The child seat is compliant with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213 or
Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213.
■Selecting a Child Seat1Selecting a Child Seat
Installation of a LATCH-co mpatible child seat is
simple.
LATCH-compatible child s eats have been developed
to simplify the installati on process and reduce the
likelihood of injuries caused by incorrect installation.
17 ACURA MDX-31TZ56300.book 60 ページ ２０１６年５月１３日　金曜日　午後７時４６分

61
uuChild Safety uSafety of Infants and Small Children
Continued
Safe DrivingA LATCH-compatible child seat can be instal led in the second row seats. A child seat
is attached to the lower anc hors with either the rigid or flexible type of connectors.
1. Locate the lower anchors under the marks.
■Installing a LATCH-Compatible Child Seat
Models with second row captain seat
Marks
Marks
Models with second row bench seat
17 ACURA MDX-31TZ56300.book 61 ページ ２０１６年５月１３日　金曜日　午後７時４６分

62
uuChild Safety uSafety of Infants and Small Children
Safe Driving
2. Place the child seat on the vehicle seat, then
attach the child seat to the lower anchors
according to the instructions that came
with the child seat.
u When installing the child seat, make sure
that the lower anchors are not
obstructed by the seat belt or any other
object.
Rigid Type
Lower Anchors
Flexible Type
17 ACURA MDX-31TZ56300.book 62 ページ ２０１６年５月１３日　金曜日　午後７時４６分

Continued63
uuChild Safety uSafety of Infants and Small Children
Safe Driving
3. Put the outer head restraint to its upper-
most position, then route the tether strap
between the head restraint legs, and secure
the tether strap hook to the anchor. Make
sure the strap is not twisted.
3. Put the center head restraint to its lowest
position, then route the tether strap over
the top of the head restraint and secure the
tether strap hook to the anchor. Make sure
the strap is not twisted.
4. Tighten the tether strap as instructed by the
child seat manufacturer.
5. Make sure the child seat is firmly secured by
rocking it forward and back and side to
side; little movement should be felt.
6. Make sure any unused seat belt that a child
can reach is buckled, the lockable retractor
is activated, and the be lt is fully retracted
and locked.
2 Protecting Child Passengers P. 56
Models with second row captain seat
Tether Strap Hook
Anchor
Outer positions1 Installing a LATCH-Compatible Child Seat
For your child’s safety, when using a child seat
installed using the LATCH system, make sure that the
child seat is properly secured to the vehicle. A child
seat that is not properly secured will not adequately
protect a child in a crash and may cause injury to the
child or other vehicle occupants.
Tether Strap Hook
Anchor
Models with second row bench seatCenter position of second row bench seat
All positions
17 ACURA MDX-31TZ56300.book 63 ページ ２０１６年５月１３日　金曜日　午後７時４６分