Seats and Restraints 29
Questions and Answers About Seat Belts
Q: Will I be trapped in the vehicle after a
crash if I am wearing a seat belt?
A: You could be — whether you are
wearing a seat belt or not. Your chance
of being conscious during and after a
crash, so you can unbuckle and get out,
is much greater if you are belted.
Q: If my vehicle has airbags, why should I
have to wear seat belts?
A: Airbags are supplemental systems only.
They work with seat belts — not instead
of them. Whether or not an airbag is
provided, all occupants still have to
buckle up to get the most protection.
Also, in nearly all states and in all
Canadian provinces, the law requires
wearing seat belts.
Buckle To Drive
This feature prevents the vehicle from
shifting out of P (Park) when the driver seat
belt is not buckled.
If the vehicle is on and the brake pedal is
pressed with the vehicle in P (Park) but the
driver seat belt is not buckled, a message
displays in the Driver Information
Center (DIC) and the vehicle will be
prevented from shifting out of P (Park).
Buckle the driver seat belt to clear the
message and shift out of P (Park). Shifting
from P (Park) will be prevented once for
each time the vehicle is started.
If the driver remains unbuckled, the DIC
message will turn off after several seconds
and the vehicle can be shifted out of
P (Park). See “Seat Belts” in the Index for
information about the importance of proper
restraint use.
If the driver seat belt is unbuckled when
driving, the seat belt reminder chime and
light(s) will come on. See Seat Belt
Reminders 0 56.
How to Wear Seat Belts Properly
Follow these rules for everyone's protection.
There are additional things to know about
seat belts and children, including smaller
children and infants. If a child will be riding
in the vehicle, see Older Children 0 39 or
Infants and Young Children 0 41. Review and
follow the rules for children in addition to
the following rules.
It is very important for all occupants to
buckle up. Statistics show that unbelted
people are hurt more often in crashes than
those who are wearing seat belts.
There are important things to know about
wearing a seat belt properly.
.
Sit up straight and always keep your feet
on the floor in front of you (if possible).
.
Wear the lap part of the belt low and
snug on the hips, just touching the
thighs. In a crash, this applies force to the
strong pelvic bones and you would be
less likely to slide under the lap belt.
If you slid under it, the belt would apply
force on your abdomen. This could cause
serious or even fatal injuries.
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