Dr iv ing sa f ety
to incorrect positioning of the safety belt
and improper seating position.
- Children must always ride in child seats
c:> page 294. Special precautions apply
when installing a child seat on the front
passenger seat
c:> page 269.
Proper seating positions for passengers in
rear seats
Rear seat passengers must sit upright with both
feet on the floor consistent with their physical
size and be properly restrained whenever the ve-
hicle is in use.
To reduce the risk of injury caused by an incorrect
seating position in the event of a sudden braking
maneuver or an accident, your passengers on the
rear bench seat must always observe the follow-
ing:
• For adjustable head restra ints: adjust the head
restra int so the uppe r edge is as even as poss i-
ble with the t op of your head. If that is not pos-
sible, try to adjust t he head restra int so th at it
is as close to t his position as possib le
c:>page 61.
• Keep both feet flat in the footwell in front of
the rear seat.
• Fasten and wear safety belts properly
c:>page264.
• Make sure that children are always properly re-
strained in a child restraint that is approp riate
for their size and age
c::> page 294.
_& WARNING
Passenge rs who are improperly seated on the
rear seat can be seriously injured in a crash .
- Eac h passenger m ust always sit on a seat of
their own and properly fas ten and wear the
sa fet y belt belongi ng to th at sea t.
- Safe t y belt s only offe r max imum protection
when the safety belts are properly posi-
tioned on the body and securely latched . By
not sitting upright, a rear seat passenger in-
creases the risk of personal inj ury from im-
properly positioned safety belts!
252
- For adjustable head restraints: always ad-
just the head restraint properly so that it
can give maximum protection.
Proper adjustment of head restraints
Applies to : vehicles with adjustable head restra ints
Correctly adjusted head restraints are an impor-
tant part of your vehicle's occupant restraint sys-
tem and can help to reduce the risk of injuries in
accident situations.
Fig. 2 18 Head rest ra int: viewed from the front
The head rest raints must be corre ctly adjus ted to
achieve t he best protec t ion.
• Adj ust the head rest raint so the upper edge is
as even as possib le with t he top of you r head . If
t ha t is no t possib le, tr y to adjus t the head re-
st raint so t hat it is as close t o t his pos it ion as
possible
c:>fig. 218 .
• Applies to: forward/back adjustable head re -
straints: Move the head restraint so that it is as
close to the back of the head as possib le.
• If there is a passenger on the rear center seat-
ing position, slide the center head restraint up-
ward at least to the next notch .
Adjust ing head restraints
c:>page 61.
_& WARNING
All seats are eq uipped with head restraints .
Driving without head restraints or with head
restraints that are not prope rly adjusted in-
creases the risk of se rious or fata l neck injury
dr amat ically. To help reduce t he risk of injury:
- Always drive with the head restra ints in
place and properly adjusted.
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