Seat Belts For Older Children
Children over 1.50 m in height can wear seat
belts instead of using child restraints.
Use this simple 5-step test to decide whether
the seat belt properly fits the child or if they
should still use a Group 2 or Group 3 child
restraint to improve the fit of the seat belt:
1. Can the child sit all the way back against
the back of the vehicle seat?
2. Do the child’s knees bend comfortably
over the front of the vehicle seat – while
they are still sitting all the way back?
3. Does the shoulder belt cross the child’s
shoulder between their neck and arm?
4. Is the lap part of the belt as low as
possible, touching the child’s thighs and
not their stomach?
5. Can the child stay seated like this for the
whole trip?If the answer to any of these questions was
“no,” then the child still needs to use a Group
2 or 3 child restraint in this vehicle. If the
child is using the lap/shoulder belt, check
belt fit periodically and make sure the seat
belt buckle is latched. A child’s squirming or
slouching can move the belt out of position.
If the shoulder belt contacts the face or neck,
move the child closer to the center of the
vehicle, or use a booster seat to position the
seat belt on the child correctly.
WARNING!
Never allow a child to put the shoulder belt
under an arm or behind their back. In a
crash, the shoulder belt will not protect a
child properly, which may result in serious
injury or death. A child must always wear
both the lap and shoulder portions of the
seat belt correctly.
ISOFIX Restraint System
Your vehicle is equipped with the child restraint
anchorage system called ISOFIX. This system
allows ISOFIX-equipped child seats to be in-
stalled without using the vehicle’s seat belts.
The ISOFIX system has two lower anchorages
located at the back of the seat cushion where it
meets the seatback and a top tether anchorage
located behind the seating position.
An example of a Universal ISOFIX child re-
straint system for weight group 1 is shown in
fig. E. ISOFIX child restraints are also avail-
able in the other weight groups.
Fig. E
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2. Route the tether strap to provide the most
direct path for the strap between the an-
chor and the child seat. If your vehicle is
equipped with adjustable rear head re-
straints, raise the head restraint, and
where possible, route the tether strap un-
der the head restraint and between the
two posts. If not possible, lower the head
restraint and pass the tether strap around
the outboard side of the head restraint.
3. Attach the tether strap hook of the child
restraint to the top tether anchorage as
shown in the diagram.
4. Remove slack in the tether strap accord-
ing to the child restraint manufacturer’s
instructions.
WARNING!
• An incorrectly anchored tether strap
could lead to increased head motion
and possible injury to the child. Use
only the anchorage position directly be-
hind the child seat to secure a child
restraint top tether strap.
WARNING!
• If your vehicle is equipped with a split
rear seat, make sure the tether strap
does not slip into the opening between
the seatbacks as you remove slack in
the strap.
WARNING!
The child restraint owner’s manual pro-
vides instructions for installing the child
restraint using the seat belt. Read and
follow these instructions to install the
child seat properly.
Suitability of Passenger Seats for I-Size
Child Restraint System Use
The rear outboard seats of the vehicle are
type-approved to house the state-of-the-art
i-Size child restraint systems.
These child restraint systems, built and type-
approved according to the i-Size (ECE R129)
standard, ensure better safety conditions to
carry children on board a vehicle:• The child must be transported rearward
facing until 15 months:
• Child restraint system protection is in-
creased in the event of a side collision:
• The use of the ISOFIX system is promoted
to avoid faulty installation of the child re-
straint system:
• Efficiency in the choice of the child re-
straint system, which isn't made according
to weight anymore but according to the
child's height, is increased:
• Compatibility between the vehicle seats
and the child restraint systems is better:
the i- Size child restraint systems can be
considered as "Super ISOFIX"; this means
that they can be perfectly fitted in type-
approved i-Size seats, but can also be fitted
in ISOFIX (ECE R44) type-approved seats.
NOTE:
The vehicle seats, i-Size type-approved, are
marked by the symbol shown in fig. XX.
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WARNING!
It is important that you do not exceed the
maximum front or rear GAWR. A danger-
ous driving condition can result if either
rating is exceeded. You could lose control
of the vehicle and have a collision.
Tongue Weight (TW)
The tongue weight is the downward force
exerted on the hitch ball by the trailer. You
must consider this as part of the load on your
vehicle.
Trailer Frontal Area
The frontal area is the maximum height mul-
tiplied by the maximum width of the front of
a trailer.
Trailer Sway Control
The trailer sway control can be a mechanical
telescoping link that can be installed be-
tween the hitch receiver and the trailertongue that typically provides adjustable fric-
tion associated with the telescoping motion
to dampen any unwanted trailer swaying mo-
tions while traveling.
If equipped, the electronic Trailer Sway Con-
trol (TSC) recognizes a swaying trailer and
automatically applies individual wheel
brakes and/or reduces engine power to at-
tempt to eliminate the trailer sway.
Weight-Carrying Hitch
A weight-carrying hitch supports the trailer
tongue weight, just as if it were luggage
located at a hitch ball or some other connect-
ing point of the vehicle. These kinds of
hitches are the most popular on the market
today and they are commonly used to tow
small and medium sized trailers.
Weight-Distributing Hitch
A weight-distributing system works by apply-
ing leverage through spring (load) bars. They
are typically used for heavier loads to distrib-
ute trailer tongue weight to the tow vehicle's
front axle and the trailer axle(s). When used
in accordance with the manufacturer's direc-tions, it provides for a more level ride, offer-
ing more consistent steering and brake con-
trol thereby enhancing towing safety. The
addition of a friction/hydraulic sway control
also dampens sway caused by traffic and
crosswinds and contributes positively to tow
vehicle and trailer stability. Trailer sway con-
trol and a weight distributing (load equaliz-
ing) hitch are recommended for heavier
Tongue Weights (TW) and may be required
depending on vehicle and trailer
configuration/loading to comply with Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) requirements.
WARNING!
• An improperly adjusted Weight Distrib-
uting Hitch system may reduce han-
dling, stability, braking performance,
and could result in a collision.
• Weight Distributing Systems may not be
compatible with Surge Brake Couplers.
Consult with your hitch and trailer
manufacturer or a reputable Recre-
ational Vehicle dealer for additional in-
formation.
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