2018 HONDA RIDGELINE belt

uuChild Safety uSafety of Infants and Small Children
64
Safe Driving
5. Grab the shoulder part of the seat belt near
the buckle, and pull up to remove any slack
from the lap part of the belt.
u When doing this, place your weight on
the child seat and push it into the vehicle
seat.
6. Make sure the child seat is firmly secured by
rocking it forward and back and side to
side; less than one inch of movement
should occur near the seat belt.
7. Make sure any unused se at 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. 55
1Installing a Child Seat with a Lap/Shoulder Seat Belt
To deactivate a lockable retractor, release the buckle
and allow the seat belt to wind up all the way.

Continued65
uuChild Safety uSafety of Infants and Small Children
Safe DrivingA tether anchorage poin t is provided at each
outside of the seat bottom and between the
lower anchors of the rear center seat. If you
have a child restraint system that comes with
a tether but can be installed with a seat belt,
the tether may be used for additional security.
■Adding Security with a Tether
Covers
Outer Tether
Anchorage PointsUpper Guides
Center Tether Anchorage Point
1 Adding Security with a Tether
Since a tether can provide additional security to the
lap/shoulder seat belt in stallation, we recommend
using a tether whenever one is available.
Always use a tether for forward facing child seats
when using the seat be lt or lower anchors.

68
uuChild Safety uSafety of Larger Children
Safe Driving
Safety of Larger Children
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.
When a child is too big for a child seat, secure the child in a rear seat using the lap/
shoulder seat belt. Have the child sit upright and all the way back, then answer the
following questions.
■Checklist
• Do the child’s knees bend comfortably over
the edge of the seat?
• Does the shoulder belt cross between the
child’s neck and arm?
• Is the lap part of the seat belt as low as
possible, touching the child’s thighs?
• 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
seat belt correctly. If you answer no to any question, the child needs to ride on a
booster seat until the seat belt fits properly without a booster seat.
■Protecting Larger Children
■Checking Seat Belt Fit
1 Safety of Larger Children
3WARNING
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 larger child must ri de in front, move the
vehicle seat as far to the rear as possible,
have the child sit up properly and wear the
seat belt properly, us ing a booster seat if
needed.

69
uuChild Safety uSafety of Larger Children
Safe DrivingIf a lap/shoulder seat belt cannot be used
properly, position the child in a booster seat in
a rear seat. For the child’s safety, check that
the child meets the booster seat
manufacturer’s recommendations.
Your vehicle has a rear seat where children can be properly restrained. If you ever
have to carry a group of children, and a child must ride in front:
• Make sure you read and fully understand the instructions and safety information
in this manual.
• Move the front passenger seat as far back as possible.
• Have the child sit upright and well back in the seat.
• Check that the seat belt is properly positi oned so that the child is secure in the
seat.
■Monitoring child passengers
We strongly recommend that you keep an ey e on child passengers. Even older, more
mature children sometimes need to be remind ed to fasten their seat belts and sit up
properly.
■Booster Seats1 Booster Seats
When installing a booster seat, make sure to read the
instructions that came with it, and install the seat
accordingly.
There are high- and low-type booster seats. Choose a
booster seat that allows the child to wear the seat
belt correctly.
Some U.S. states, and Canadian provinces and
territories require children to use a booster seat until
they reach a given age or we ight (e.g. six years or 60
lbs). Be sure to check current laws in the state or
province, or territory where you intend to drive.
■Protecting Larger Children-Final Checks

76
uuIndicators u
Instrument Panel
IndicatorNameOn/BlinkingExplanationMessage
Shift Lever
Position Indicator●Indicates the current shift lever
position.2Shifting P. 440—
Transmission
Indicator
●Blinks if the transmission system
has a problem.●Blinks while driving - Avoid sudden starts
and acceleration and have the vehicle
checked by a dealer immediately.
Seat Belt
Reminder
Indicator
●Comes on and the beeper sounds
if you are not wearing a seat belt
when you set the power mode to
ON.
●If the front passenger is not
wearing a seat belt, the indicator
comes on about a few seconds
later.
●Blinks while driving if either you
or the front passenger has not
fastened a seat belt. The beeper
sounds and the indicator blinks at
regular intervals.
●The beeper stops and the indicator goes off
when you and the front passenger fasten
their seat belts.
●Stays on after you or the front
passenger has fastened the seat belt -
A detection error may have occurred in the
sensor. Have your vehicle checked by a
dealer.
2 Seat Belt Reminder P. 36

77
uuIndicators u
Continued
Instrument Panel
IndicatorNameOn/BlinkingExplanationMessage
Low Fuel
Indicator
●Comes on when the fuel reserve is
running low (approximately 2.5
U.S. gal./9.5 Liter left).
●Blinks if there is a problem with the
fuel gauge.
●Comes on - Refuel your vehicle as soon as
possible.
●Blinks - Have your vehicle checked by a dealer.
Anti-lock
Brake System
(ABS )
Indicator●Comes on for a few seconds when
you set the power mode to ON,
then goes off.
●If it comes on at any other time,
there is a problem with the ABS.
●Stays on constantly - Have your vehicle
checked by a dealer. Wi th this indicator on,
your vehicle still has normal braking ability but
no anti-lock function.
2 Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) P. 490
Supplemental
Restraint
System
Indicator
●Comes on for a few seconds when
you set the power mode to ON,
then goes off.
●Comes on if a problem with any of
the following is detected:
-Supplemental restraint system
- Side airbag system
- Side curtain airbag system
- Seat belt tensioner
●Stays on constantly or does not come on
at all - Have your vehicle checked by a dealer.

128
Controls
Opening and Closing the Tailgate
Precautions for Opening/Closing the Tailgate
Always make sure individuals and objects are clear of the tailgate before opening or
closing it.
■Opening the tailgate
• Support the tailgate with your hand s until it has completely opened.
• Be careful when it is windy. The wind may cause the tailgate to close when it is in
the swing open position.
■Closing the tailgate
Unless absolutely necessary, clos e the tailgate before driving.
1Precautions for Opening/Closing the Tailgate
Be careful not to put your hands between the tailgate
and the cargo area when closing the tailgate.
When you are storing or pi cking up luggage from the
cargo area while the engine is idling, do not stand in
front of the exhaust pipe. You may get burned.
3WARNING
Anyone caught in the path of a tailgate
that is being opened or closed can be
seriously injured.
Make sure that all people are clear of the
tailgate before opening or closing it.
3WARNING
Allowing passengers to ride in the pickup
bed or on the tailgate can result in death or
serious injury in a crash.
Make sure all passengers ride in a seat and
wear a seat belt properly.

165
uuAdjusting the Seats uFront Seats
Controls
Adjust the driver’s seat -back to a comfortable,
upright position, leaving ample space
between your chest and the airbag cover in
the center of the steering wheel.
The front seat passenger should also adjust
their seat-back to a comfortable, upright
position.
Reclining a seat-back so that the shoulder part of the belt no longer rests against the
occupant’s chest reduces the protective capa bility of the belt. It also increases the
chance of sliding under the belt in a crash and being seriously injured. The farther a
seat-back is reclined, the gr eater the risk of injury.
■Adjusting the Seat-Backs1Adjusting the Seat-Backs
Do not put a cushion, or other object, between the
seat-back and your back.
Doing so may interfere with proper seat belt or airbag
operation.
If you cannot get far e nough away from the steering
wheel and still reach th e controls, we recommend
that you investigate whether some type of adaptive
equipment may help.
3WARNING
Reclining the seat-back too far can result in
serious injury or death in a crash.
Adjust the seat-back to an upright position,
and sit well back in the seat.