Seat Belt Systems: Description and Operation

Occupant Restraint System
The outboard safety restraints in the vehicle are combination lap and shoulder belts. The front and rear seat passenger outboard safety belts have two types of locking modes: the vehicle-sensitive (emergency) locking mode and the Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) mode.

Vehicle-Sensitive (Emergency) Locking Mode

NOTE: The rear seat belts cannot be made to lock up by pulling quickly on the belt.

The vehicle-sensitive locking mode is the normal retractor mode, allowing free shoulder belt length adjustments to occupant movements and locking in response to vehicle movements. If the driver brakes suddenly, turns a corner sharply or the vehicle receives an impact of approximately 8 kph (5 mph), the combination safety belts will lock to restrain forward movement of the driver and passengers.

The front seat belt system can also be made to lock manually by quickly pulling on the shoulder belt.

Fastening Safety Belts

WARNING: DO NOT INTRODUCE SLACK INTO THE SAFETY BELT SYSTEM BECAUSE THE BELT LOCKS UPON IMPACT WHERE IT IS POSITIONED. USE THE SHOULDER SAFETY BELT ON THE OUTSIDE SHOULDER ONLY. NEVER WEAR THE SHOULDER SAFETY BELT UNDER THE ARM. NEVER SWING THE SHOULDER SAFETY BELT AROUND THE NECK OVER THE INSIDE SHOULDER. NEVER USE A SINGLE BELT FOR MORE THAN ONE PERSON. MAKE SURE THE LAP PORTION OF THE BELT IS FITTED SNUGLY AND AS LOW AS POSSIBLE AROUND THE HIPS, NOT THE WAIST. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE PRECAUTIONS COULD INCREASE THE CHANCE AND SEVERITY OF INJURY IN A COLLISION.

Always follow the preceding safety precautions when fastening the safety belts.