88 Dr iv ing Safel y
- Children must always be properly re-
strained in a child restraint that is appro-
priate for their age and size
c:> page 122.
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 serio us
injury or death . Safety belts can only work
when they are properly positioned on the
body. Improper seat ing positions reduce the
effectiveness of safety belts and will even in-
crease the risk of injury and death by moving
the safety belt to critical areas of the body.
I mp roper seating posit ions also increase the
risk of serious injury and deat h when an air-
bag deploys and strikes an occupant who is
not in the proper seating position. A driver 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
c:> .&_.
The f oll owing bullets list only some sample
positions that wi ll increase the risk of serious
injury and death . Our hope is that these exam-
ples wi ll make you more aware of seating po-
sitions that are dangero us.
Therefore, whenever the vehicle is
moving:
- never stand up in the vehicle
- never stand on the seats
- never kneel on the seats
- never ride with the seatba ck reclined
- never lean up against the instrument panel
- never sit on the edge of the seat
- never sit sideways
- never lean out the window
- never put your f eet out the window
- never put your f eet on the inst rument panel
- never rest your feet on the seat cushion or
back of the seat
- never ride in the footwe ll
- never ride in the cargo area
A WARNING
Imp roper seating positions increase the
risk of serious personal injury and death
whenever a vehicle is being used.
- Sitting incorrectly places occupants at
risk of being critically injured if the air-
bags deploy and strike them.
- Before you start driving, seat yourself
properly and always maintain this seat-
ing position during the trip. Before each
tr ip, instruct your passengers to seat
themselves properly and to mainta in this
seating position during the trip
c:> page 48, General recommendations.
Driver and passenger
side footwell
Important safety instructions
A WARNING
Always make sure that the knee airbag can
inflate witho ut interference . Objects be-
tween yourself and the airbag can increase
the risk of injury in an accident by interfer-
ing with the way the airbag deploys or by
being pushed into you as the airbag de-
ploys.
- No persons (children) or animals shou ld
ride in the footwell in front of the pas-
senger seat. If the airbag deploys, this
can result in serious or fatal injuries .
- No objects of any kind should be carried
in the footwell area in front of the driv-
er's or passenger's seat. Bulky objects
(shopping bags, for example) can ham-
per or prevent proper deploymen t of t he
airbag . Small obj ects can be thrown
through the vehicle if the airbag deploys
and inj ure you or your passengers.
-
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