132 Dr iv ing Safel y
Proper adjustment of 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. 145 Head restraint: viewed from the front
The head restraints must be correctly adjust-
ed to achieve the best protection.
i,.. For adjustable head restraints: adjust t he
head restraint so the upper edge is as even
as possible with the top of your head. If that
is not possible, try to adjust the head re-
stra int so that it is as close to th is position
as possible ¢
fig. 145. Move the head re-
stra int so that it is as close to the back of
the head as possible .
i,.. If there is a passenger on the rear center
seat ing pos ition, slide the center head re-
stra int upward at least to the next notch.
Adjust ing head restraints¢
page 55.
A WARNING
All seats are equipped with head re-
straints. Driving without head restraints or
with head restra ints tha t a re not properly
adjusted increases the risk of ser io us or fa-
tal neck injury dramatically. To help reduce
the risk of injury:
- Always drive with the head restraints in
place and proper ly adjusted.
- Every pe rson in the vehicle must have a
properly adju sted head restra int .
- Always make su re each pe rson in the ve-
hicle proper ly adjusts the ir head re-
straint . Adju st the head restraint so the
upper edge is as even as possib le with
the top of yo ur head. If that is not possi-
ble, t ry to adju st the head restraint so
that it is as close to this posit ion as pos-
sible. Move the head rest raint so that it
is as close to the back of the head as pos-
sible.
- Never attempt to adjust head restraint
while driving. If you have driven off and
m ust adjust the driver headrest for any
reason, first stop the vehicle safely be-
fore at tempting to adjust t he head re-
straint.
- Child ren mus t always be prope rly re-
st rained in a child rest rain t that is appro-
priat e fo r their age and size ¢
page 173.
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 ca n cause serious
injury or d eath. Safety belts can only work
when they are properly positioned on the
body. Improper seating positions reduce the
effectiveness of safety belts and will even in-
crease the risk of injury and death by moving
the safety belt to crit ical areas of the body.
Improper seating positions also increase the
risk of serious injury and death when an a ir-
bag deploys and str ikes an occupant who is
not in the proper seating position. A dr iver is
responsible fo r the safety of all veh icle occu-
pants and espe cially for child ren. The refore:
i,.. Never allow anyone to assume an incorrect
seating position when the vehicle is being
used ¢ & .
The following bullet ins list only some sample
pos itions that will increase the risk of serious
injury and death. Our hope is that t hese exam-
ples will make you more aware of seat ing po-
sit ions t ha t a re dangerous.
Therefore , whenever the vehicle is
moving:
- neve r stand up in the vehicle
- neve r stand on the seats
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