2020 HONDA FIT belt

60
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 sitti ng 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 properly
restrained in a rear seat. Some states or provinces/
territories have laws rest ricting where children 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.
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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 vehicl e using either 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 unattended, 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.1Protecting 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. 74
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.
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uuChild Safety uSafety of Infants and Small Children
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Safe DrivingMost child seats are LATCH-compatible (L ower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren).
Some have a rigid-type connector, while ot hers 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 as well as the instructions in this manual.
Proper installation is key to ma ximizing 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 a lap belt or the lap part of a lap/sh oulder belt. In addition, the child seat
manufacturer may advise that a seat belt be used to attach a LATCH-compatible seat
once a child reaches a specified weight. Please read the child seat owner’s manual
for proper installation instructions.
■Important consideration wh en 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 Federa l Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213 or
Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213.
■Selecting a Child Seat1 Selecting a Child Seat
Installation of a LATCH-compatible 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.
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Continued65
uuChild Safety uSafety of Infants and Small Children
Safe DrivingA LATCH-compatible child seat can be installe d in either of the two outer rear seats.
A child seat is attached to th e lower anchors with either th e rigid or flexible type of
connectors. 1.Locate the lower anchors under the marks.
2. Raise the head restraint to its highest
position.
3. 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.
■Installing a LATCH-Compatible Child Seat1 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.
3WARNING
Never attach two child seats to the same
anchor. In a collision, one anchor may not
be strong enough to hold two child seat
attachments and may break, causing
serious injury or death.
Marks
Rigid Type
Lower Anchors
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uuChild Safety uSafety of Infants and Small Children
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Safe Driving
4. Remove the cargo area cover*.
2 Cargo Area Cover* P. 194
5.Route the tether strap between the head
restraint legs, and secure the tether strap
hook onto the anchor.
Make sure the strap is not twisted.
6. Tighten the tether strap as instructed by the
child seat manufacturer.
7. Make sure the child seat is firmly secured by
rocking it forward and back and side to
side; little movement should be felt.
8. 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.
9. Reinstall the cargo area cover.
Flexible Type
1Installing a LATCH-Compatible Child Seat
Installing a LATCH-compatible child seat in the
rear center seat
Each outer rear seat is equi pped with a pair of lower
anchors which are used to secure a LATCH-
compatible child seat. The rear center seat, however,
is not equipped with anchors of any kind.
The inner and outer anchors are spaced apart at a
standard distance of 11 inches (280 mm). The
distance between the two inner anchors is
14.1 inches (357.8 mm).
LATCH-compatible restraint systems that are fitted
with rigid-type attachments cannot be installed in the
rear center seat. However, a system fitted with
flexible-type attachments can be installed in the
center seat, provided that the manufacturer’s
instructions for that system permit the use of the
inner anchors with the stated spacing.
Before seating a child, make sure that the system is
properly attached to both the lower anchors and
tether anchors.
3WARNING
Do not use the lower inner anchors of the
outer rear seats to secure a LATCH-
compatible child seat to the rear center
seat, unless the manufacturer’s instructions
for that system permit the use of inner
anchors with the stated spacing.
Anchor
Tether Strap Hook
FR
* Not available on all models
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Continued67
uuChild Safety uSafety of Infants and Small Children
Safe DrivingA child seat can be installed with a lap/should er belt in any rear seat or, if absolutely
necessary, the front passenger seat. 1.Raise the head restraint to its highest
position.
2. Place the child seat on the vehicle seat.
3. Route the seat belt through the child seat
according to the seat manufacturer's
instructions, and insert the latch plate into
the buckle.
u Insert the latch plate fully until it clicks.
4. Slowly pull the shoulder part of the belt all
the way out until it stops. This activates the
lockable retractor.
5. Let the seat belt completely wind up into
the retractor, then try to pull it out to make
sure the retractor is locked.
u If you are able to pull the shoulder belt
out, the lockable retractor is not
activated. Pull the seat belt all the way
out, and repeat steps 4 – 5.
■Installing a Child Seat with a Lap/Shoulder Seat Belt1Installing a Child Seat with a Lap/Shoulder Seat Belt
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.
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uuChild Safety uSafety of Infants and Small Children
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Safe Driving
6. 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, plac e your weight on
the child seat and push it into the vehicle
seat.
7. 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.
8. 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.1 Installing 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.
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Continued69
uuChild Safety uSafety of Infants and Small Children
Safe DrivingA tether anchorage point is provided behind
each rear seating position.
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 Tether1Adding Security with a Tether
Always use a tether for forward-facing child seats
when using the seat be lt or lower anchors.
Tether
Anchorage
Points
Tether Anchorage Point
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