3
3. Safety System
Important Safety Precautions ........................................................................\
...3-2Always Wear Your Seat Belt ........................................................................\
................. 3-2
Restrain All Children .......................................................................\
.............................. 3-2
Air Bag Hazards .......................................................................\
..................................... 3-2
Driver Distraction .......................................................................\
.................................. 3-2
Control Your Speed .......................................................................\
............................... 3-2
Keep Your Vehicle in Safe Condition .......................................................................\
.... 3-2
Seats .....................................................................\
............................................. 3-3Safety Precautions ........................................................................\
............................... 3-5
Front Seats .......................................................................\
.............................................3-6
Rear Seats .......................................................................\
............................................. 3-11
Head Restraints .......................................................................\
....................................3-13
Seat Warmers .......................................................................\
....................................... 3-17
Air Ventilation Seats .......................................................................\
............................ 3-19
Rear Occupant Alert (ROA) .......................................................................\
..................3-21
Seat Belts ........................................................................\
..................................3-22Seat Belt Safety Precautions ........................................................................\
............. 3-22
Seat Belt Warning Light .......................................................................\
...................... 3-23
Seat Belt Restraint System .......................................................................\
................. 3-24
Additional Seat Belt Safety Precautions ....................................................................3-31
Care of Seat Belts .......................................................................\
................................ 3-33
Child Restraint System (CRS) ........................................................................\
. 3-34
Children Always in the Rear ........................................................................\
...............3-34
Selecting a Child Restraint System (CRS) ................................................................. 3-35
Installing a Child Restraint System (CRS) ................................................................. 3-37
Air Bag - Supplemental Restraint System ..................................................... 3-43Where are the Air Bags? ........................................................................\
.....................3-45
How does the Air Bags System Operate? ................................................................ 3-49
What to Expect After an Air Bag Inflates ..................................................................3-53
Occupant Classification System (OCS) .....................................................................3-54
Why Didn’t My Air Bag Go Off in a Collision? ...........................................................3-59
SRS Care .......................................................................\
............................................. 3-64
Additional Safety Precautions .......................................................................\
............3-65
Air Bag Warning Labels .......................................................................\
.......................3-65
Safety System3-2
You will find many safety precautions
and recommendations throughout this
section, and throughout this manual.
The safety precautions in this section are
among the most important.
Always Wear Your Seat Belt
A seat belt is your best protection in all
types of accidents. Air bags are designed
to supplement seat belts, not to replace
them. So even though your vehicle is
equipped with air bags, ALWAYS make
sure you and your passengers wear your
seat belts, and wear them properly.
Restrain All Children
All children under age 13 should ride
in your vehicle properly restrained in a
rear seat, not the front seat. Infants and
small children should be restrained in
an appropriate Child Restraint System.
Larger children should use a booster
seat with the lap/shoulder belt until they
can use the seat belt properly without a
booster seat.
Air Bag Hazards
While air bags can save lives, they can
also cause serious or fatal injuries to
occupants who sit too close to them, or
who are not properly restrained. Infants,
young children, and short adults are at
the greatest risk of being injured by an
inflating air bag. Follow all instructions
and warnings in this manual.
Driver Distraction
Driver distraction presents a serious and
potentially deadly danger, especially for
inexperienced drivers. Safety should be
the first concern when behind the wheel
and drivers need to be aware of the wide
array of potential distractions, such as
drowsiness, reaching for objects, eating,
personal grooming, other passengers,
and using mobile phones. Drivers can become distracted when
they take their eyes and attention off
the road or their hands off the wheel to
focus on activities other than driving.
To reduce your risk of distraction and an
accident:
[
Set up your mobile devices (for
example, MP3 players, phones,
navigation units, etc.) ONLY when
your vehicle is parked or safely
stopped.
[ ONLY use your mobile device when
allowed by laws and conditions permit
safe use. NEVER text or email while
driving. Most countries have laws
prohibiting drivers from texting. Some
countries and cities also prohibit
drivers from using handheld phones.
[ NEVER let the use of a mobile device
distract you from driving. You have a
responsibility to your passengers and
others on the road to always drive
safely, with your hands on the wheel
as well as your eyes and attention on
the road.
Control Your Speed
Excessive speed is a major factor in crash
injuries and deaths. Generally, the higher
the speed, the greater the risk, but
serious injuries can also occur at lower
speeds. Never drive faster than is safe
for current conditions, regardless of the
maximum speed posted.
Keep Your Vehicle in Safe
Condition
Having a tire blowout or a mechanical
failure can be extremely hazardous. To
reduce the possibility of such problems,
check your tire pressures and condition
frequently, and perform all regularly
scheduled maintenance.
IMPORTANT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
03
3-5
Safety Precautions
Adjusting the seats so that you are sitting
in a safe and comfortable position plays
an important role for the safety of the
driver an passengers, as much as seat
belts and air bags when in an accident.
WARNING
Do not use a cushion that reduces
friction between the seat and the
passenger. The passenger’s hips may
slide under the lap portion of the seat
belt during an accident or a sudden
stop.
Serious or fatal internal injuries could
result because the seat belt cannot
operate properly.
Air bags
You can take steps to reduce the risk
of being injured by an inflating air bag.
Sitting too close to an air bag greatly
increases the risk of injury in the event
the air bag inflates.
The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) recommends
that drivers allow at least 10 inches (25
cm) between the center of the steering
wheel and their chest.
WARNING
To reduce the risk of serious injury or
death from an inflating air bag, take the
following precautions:
[ Adjust the driver’s seat as far to the
rear as possible maintaining the
ability to control the vehicle.
[ Adjust the front passenger seat as far
to the rear as possible.
[ Hold the steering wheel by the rim
with hands at the 9 o’clock and 3
o’clock positions to minimize the risk
of injuries to your hands and arms.
[ NEVER place anything or anyone
between you and the air bag.
[ Do not allow the front passenger to
place feet or legs on the dashboard
to minimize the risk of leg injuries.
Seat belts
Always fasten your seat belt before
starting any trip. At all times, passengers
should sit upright and be properly
restrained. Infants and small children
must be restrained in appropriate Child
Restraint Systems. Children who have
outgrown a booster seat and adults must
be restrained using the seat belts.
WARNING
Take the following precautions when
adjusting your seat belt:
[ NEVER use one seat belt for more
than one occupant.
[ Always position the seatback upright
with the lap portion of the seat belt
snug and low across the hips.
[ NEVER allow children or small infants
to ride on a passenger’s lap.
[ Do not route the seat belt across your
neck, across sharp edges, or reroute
the shoulder strap away from your
body.
[ Do not allow the seat belt to become
caught or jammed.
Safety System3-6
Front Seats
The front seat can be adjusted by using
the control switches located on the
outside of the seat cushion. Before
driving, adjust the seat to the proper
position so that you can easily control
the steering wheel, foot pedals and
controls on the instrument panel.
WARNING
Take the following precautions when
adjusting your seat:
[ NEVER attempt to adjust the seat
while the vehicle is moving. The seat
could respond with unexpected
movement and may cause loss
of vehicle control resulting in an
accident.
[ Do not place anything under the
front seats. Loose objects in the
driver’s foot area could interfere
with the operation of the foot pedals,
causing an accident.
[ Do not allow anything to interfere
with the normal position and proper
locking of the seatback.
[ Do not place a cigarette lighter on
the floor or seat. When you operate
the seat, gas may exit out of the
lighter causing a fire.
[ Use extreme caution when picking
up small objects trapped under the
seats or between the seat and the
center console. Your hands might be
cut or injured by the sharp edges of
the seat mechanism.
[ If there are occupants in the rear
seats, be careful while adjusting the
front seat position.
[ Make sure that the seat is locked in
place after the adjustment. If not,
the seat might move unexpectedly
resulting in an accident.
CAUTION
To prevent injury:
[ Do not adjust your seat while
wearing your seat belt. Moving the
seat cushion forward may cause
strong pressure on your abdomen.
[ Do not allow your hands or fingers to
get caught in the seat mechanisms
while the seat is moving.
WARNING
NEVER allow children in the vehicle
unattended. The power seats are
operable when the vehicle is turned off.
NOTICE
To prevent damage to the seats:
[ Always stop adjusting the seats when
the seat has been adjusted as far
forward or rearward as possible.
[ Do not adjust the seats longer than
necessary when the vehicle is turned
off. This may result in unnecessary
battery drain.
[ Do not operate two or more seats at
the same time. This may result in an
electrical malfunction.
03
3-17
Seat Warmers (if equipped)
Seat warmers are provided to warm the
seats during cold weather.
During mild weather or under conditions
where the operation of the seat warmer
is not needed, keep the seat warmers
OFF.
WARNING
The seat warmers can cause a SERIOUS
BURN, even at low temperatures and
especially if used for long periods of
time.
Passengers must be able to feel if the
seat is becoming too warm so they can
turn it off, if needed.
People who cannot detect temperature
change or pain to the skin should
use extreme caution, especially the
following types of passengers:
[ Infants, children, elderly or disabled
persons, or hospital outpatients.
[ People with sensitive skin or who
burn easily.
[ Fatigued individuals.
[ Intoxicated individuals.
[ People taking medication that can
cause drowsiness or sleepiness.
WARNING
NEVER place anything on the seat
that insulates against heat when the
seat warmer is in operation, such as a
blanket or seat cushion. This may cause
the seat warmer to overheat, causing a
burn or damage to the seat.
NOTICE
To prevent damage to the seat warmers
and seats:
[ Never use a solvent such as paint
thinner, benzene, alcohol or gasoline
to clean the seats.
[ Do not place heavy or sharp objects
on seats equipped with seat
warmers.
[ Do not change the seat cover. It may
damage the seat warmer.
Safety System3-22
This section describes how to use the
seat belts properly. It also describes
some of the things not to do when using
seat belts.
Seat Belt Safety Precautions
Always fasten your seat belt and make
sure all passengers have fastened their
seat belts before starting any trip. Air
bags are designed to supplement the
seat belt as an additional safety device,
not a replacement. Most countries
require all occupants of a vehicle to wear
seat belts.
WARNING
Seat belts must be used by ALL
passengers whenever the vehicle is
moving. Take the following precautions
when adjusting and wearing seat belts:
[ Children under the age of 13 should
be properly restrained in the rear
seats.
[ NEVER allow children to ride in the
front passenger seat, unless the air
bag is deactivated. If a child is seated
in the front passenger seat, move the
seat as far back as possible. And the
child must always be restrained in
the seat properly.
[ NEVER allow an infant or child to be
carried on an occupant’s lap.
[ NEVER ride with the seatback
reclined when the vehicle is moving.
[ Do not allow children to share a seat
or seat belt.
[ Do not wear the shoulder belt under
your arm or behind your back. [
NEVER wear a seat belt over fragile
objects. If there is a sudden stop or
impact, the seat belt can damage it.
[ Do not use the seat belt if it is
twisted. A twisted seat belt will not
protect you properly in an accident.
[ Do not use a seat belt if the webbing
or hardware is damaged.
[ Do not latch the seat belt into the
buckles of other seats.
[ NEVER unfasten the seat belt
while driving. This may cause loss
of vehicle control resulting in an
accident.
[ Make sure there is nothing in the
buckle interfering with the seat
belt latch mechanism, because any
materials in the buckle can cause the
seat belt not to be fastened securely.
[ No modifications or additions
should be made by the user which
will either prohibit the seat belt
adjusting devices from operating to
remove slack, or prohibit the seat
belt assembly from being adjusted to
remove slack.
WARNING
Damaged seat belts and seat belt
assemblies will not operate properly.
Always replace:
[ Frayed, contaminated, or damaged
webbing.
[ Damaged hardware.
[ The entire seat belt assembly after it
has been worn in an accident, even
if damage to webbing or assembly is
not apparent.
SEAT BELTS
Safety System3-26
OHI038142
To release your seat belt:
Press the release button (1) in the locking
buckle.
Once r
eleased, the belt should
automatically draw back into the
retractor. If this does not happen, check
the belt to be sure it is not twisted, then
try again.
Rear Seat Belt – Passenger’s 3-point
system with convertible locking
retractor
This type of seat belt combines the
features of both an emergency locking
retractor seat belt and an automatic
locking retractor seat belt. Convertible
retractor type seat belts are installed
in the rear seat positions to help
accommodate the installation of child
restraint systems. Although a convertible
retractor is also installed in the front
passenger seat position, NEVER place
any infant/child restraint system in the
front seat of the vehicle.
To fasten your seat belt:
Pull the seat belt out of the retractor
and insert the me
tal tab into the buckle.
There will be an audible “click” when
the tab locks into the buckle. When
not securing a child restraint, the seat
belt operates in the same way as the
driver’s seat belt (Emergency Locking
Retractor Type). It automatically adjusts
to the proper length only after the lap
belt portion of the seat belt is adjusted
manually so that it fits snugly across your
hips.
When the seat belt is fully extended from
the retractor to allow the installation of
a child restraint system, the seat belt
operation changes to allow the belt to
retract, but not to extend (Automatic
Locking Retractor Type). Refer to the
“Using a Child Restraint System” section
in this chapter.