Seats & Safety System
3-2
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
Seats & Safety System
3-4
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 and 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
(25cm) 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.
Seats & Safety System
3-8
Power adjustment (for driver’s seat,
if equipped)
The driver’s 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
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.
ONX4030006ONX4030006
Forward and rearward adjustment
To move the seat forward or rearward:
1. Push the control switch forward or
rearward.
2. Release the switch once the seat
reaches the desired position.
03
3-43
This vehicle is equipped with a Supplemental Air Bag System for the driver’s seat and
front passenger’s seats.
The front air bags are designed to supplement the three-point seat belts. For these air
bags to provide protection, the seat belts must be worn at all times when driving.
You can be severely injured or killed in an accident if you are not wearing a seat belt.
Air bags are designed to supplement seat belts, but do not replace them. Also, air bags
are not designed to deploy in every collision. In some accidents, the seat belts are the
only restraint protecting you.
WARNING
AIR BAG SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
ALWAYS use seat belts Child Restraint Systems - every trip, every time, everyone!
Even with air bags, you can be seriously injured or killed in a collision if you are
improperly belted or not wearing your seat belt when the air bag inflates.
NEVER place a child in any Child Restraint System or booster seat in the front
passenger seat, unless the air bag is deactivated.
An inflating air bag could forcefully strike the infant or child causing serious or fatal
injuries.
ABC - Always Buckle Children under age 13 in the back seat. It is the safest place
for children of any age to ride. If a child age 13 or older must be seated in the front
seat, he or she must be properly belted and the seat should be moved as far back as
possible.
All occupants should sit upright with the seatback in an upright position, centered
on the seat cushion with their seat belt on, legs comfortably extended and their feet
on the floor until the vehicle is parked and the vehicle is turned off. If an occupant
is out of position during an accident, the rapidly deploying air bag may forcefully
contact the occupant causing serious or fatal injuries.
You and your passengers should never sit or lean unnecessarily close to the air bags
or lean against the door or center console.
Move your seat as far back as possible from front air bags, while still maintaining
control of the vehicle. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) recommends that drivers allow at least 10 inches (25 cm) between the
center of the steering wheel and the chest.