146 Dr iv ing Safel y
Proper adjustment of head restraints
App lies to vehicles: with adj ustable head restraints
Correctly adjusted head restraints are an im-
portant part of your vehicle's occupant re-
straint system and can help to reduce the risk
of injuries in accident situations.
Fig. 162 Head restraint : viewed from t he fro nt
The head restraints must be correctly adjust-
ed to achieve the best protection.
• Adjust the head restraints so the upper
edge is as even as possible with the top of
your head. If that is not possible, try to ad-
just the head restraint so that it is as close
to this position as possible
e> fig. 162.
• If there is a passenger on the rear center
seating position, slide the center head re-
stra int upward at least to the next notch .
Adj usting head restraints
e> page 66.
A WARNING
-
Driving without head restraints or w ith
head restra ints that are not properly ad-
justed increases the risk of serious or fatal
neck injury dramatically. To help reduce
t he risk of injury:
- Always drive with the head restraints in
place and properly adjusted.
- Every person in the vehicle must have a
properly adju sted head restra int .
-Always make sure each person in the ve-
hicle properly adjusts the ir head re-
st raint. Adj ust the head restraints so the
upper edge is as even as possible wit h
the top of your head.
If tha t is not possi-
ble, try to adjust the head restra int so
that it is as close to this posit ion as pos-
sible.
- Never attempt to adj ust head restraint
while driving. If you have driven off and
must adjust the driver headrest for any
reason, first stop the vehicle safely be-
fore attempting to adjust the head re-
straint.
- Children must always be properly re-
strained in a child restraint that is appro-
priat e fo r their age and size
e> page 181.
Examples of improper seating positions
The occupant restraint system can only re-
duce the risk of injury if vehicle occupants are
properly seated.
Improper seating positions can cause serious
injury or death. Safety belts can only work
when they are properly positioned on the
body. Improper seating positions reduce the
effectiveness of safety belts and w ill even in-
crease the risk of injury and deat h by moving
the safety belt to critic al areas of the body.
Improper seating posit ions also increase the
risk of serio us injury and death when an air-
bag deploys and str ikes an occupant who is
not in the proper seating posit ion. A dr iver is
responsible for the safety of all vehicle occu-
pants and especially for children. Therefore :
• Never allow anyone to assume an incorrect
seating position when the vehicle is being
used
e> _A.
The following bulletins list only some sample
positions that will increase the risk of serious
injury and death. Our hope is that these exam-
ples will make you more aware of seat ing po-
sitions that are dangerous .
Therefore , whenever the vehicle is
moving:
- never stand up in the vehicle
- never stand on the seats
- never kneel on the seats
- never ride wit h the seat back reclined
- never li e down on the rear seat
- never lean up against the instrument panel
IJJ,,,
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