Infant or small child

To increase their safety, infants and young children should always be restrained by a restraint system approved for their age and size.

Never allow a child to stand or kneel on the seat of a moving vehicle. Never allow a safety belt to be placed around both a child and an adult or around two children at the same time.

It is best for children to be seated in the rear seat.

WARNING

Every person in your vehicle needs to be properly restrained at all times, including infants and children. Never hold a child in your arms or lap when riding in a vehicle. The violent forces created during a crash will tear the child from your arms and throw the child against the interior. Always use a child restraint appropriate for your child's height and weight.

NOTICE

Small children are best protected from injury in an accident when properly restrained in the seat by a child restraint system that meets the requirements of the Safety Standards of your country. Before buying any child restraint system, make sure that it has a label certifying that it meets Safety Standards of your country. The restraint must be appropriate for your child's height and weight. Check the label on the child restraint for this information. Refer to More Details.

Larger children

As children grow, they may need to use new child-restraint systems, including larger child seats or booster seats, which are appropriate for their increased size.

A child who has outgrown available child-restraint systems should use the belts provided in the vehicle. When seated in the rear outboard seats, the child should be restrained by the lap/shoulder belt.

If the shoulder belt portion slightly touches the child’s neck or face, try placing the child closer to the center of the vehicle. If the shoulder belt still touches their face or neck they may need to be returned to a child restraint system. In addition, aftermarket devices are available from independent manufacturers which help pull the shoulder belt down and away from the child’s face or neck.

WARNING

Shoulder belts on small children

• Never allow a shoulder belt to be in contact with a child’s neck or face while the vehicle is in motion.

• If seat belts are not properly worn and adjusted on children, there is a risk of death or serious injury.

Pregnant women

The use of a seat belt is recommended for pregnant women to lessen the chance of injury in an accident. When a seat belt is used, the lap belt portion should be placed as low and securely as possible on the hips, not across the abdomen. For specific recommendations, consult a physician.

WARNING

Pregnant women

Pregnant women must never place the lap portion of the safety belt over the area of the abdomen where the fetus is located or above the abdomen where the belt could crush the fetus during an impact.

Injured person

A seat belt should be used when an injured person is being transported. When this is necessary, you should consult a physician for recommendations.

One person per belt

Two people (including children) should never attempt to use a single seat belt. This could increase the severity of injuries in case of an accident.

Do not lie down

To reduce the chance of injuries in the event of an accident and to achieve maximum effectiveness of the restraint system, all passengers should be sitting up and the front and rear seats should be in an upright position when the vehicle is moving.

A seat belt cannot provide proper protection if the person is lying down in the rear seat or if the front and rear seats are in a reclined position.

WARNING

Riding with a reclined seatback increases your chance of serious or fatal injuries in the event of a collision or sudden stop. The protection of your restraint system (seat belts and air bags) is greatly reduced by reclining your seat. Seat belts must be secured against your hips and chest to work properly. The more the seatback is reclined, the greater the chance an occupant's hips will slide under the lap belt causing serious internal injuries. Also, the shoulder belt may strike the occupant's neck. Drivers and passengers should always sit well back in their seats, properly belted, and with the seatbacks upright.