User's Manual
2
Safe transport of children
27
Safe transport of children
For the best protection in the event of
a collision, all the vehicle's occupants
must travel seated and protected by all
the suitable restraining systems. The
seat belts are designed to be used by
persons whose physical characteristics
(age, height, weight) are provided for
by established legislation in each
country. Anyone who does not comply
with these provisions may not travel in
the front passenger seat. This also
applies to children. Their heads are
proportionally heavier and larger than
those of adults, while their bones and
muscles are relatively undeveloped. To
help protect them in case of a collision,
they must use special restraint or safety
systems.
We recommend that you
always carry children in the
specific restraining systems
installed on the rear side seats, as this
is the best place in the event of a
collision.
No child under 12 should
travel in the passenger seat.
No child seat can be installed
in the rear, central seat.
When travelling with one or
more child seats fitted on the
rear seat of the vehicle, the
tables must be in closed position.
Children must never travel
seated on a passenger's lap. A
child weighs very little until a
collision occurs! In a collision, a child
becomes so heavy that it is impossible
to hold onto him or her. For example,
in the event of a collision at only 25
mph (40 km/h), a child weighing 12 lb
(5.5 kg) exerts a force equal to 240 lb
(110 kg) on the arms of the person
carrying him/her. Children must
always be protected by a suitable
restraining system when travelling.
Children who are resting on
the airbag or are too close to it
when it is activated, may be
seriously injured. The airbags and
pretensioners are designed to offer
suitable protection for adults and
teenagers, but not for children and
babies. Neither the seat belts or the
airbags are designed for them.
Children and babies must travel in
suitable restraining systems.
Babies must be supported
completely, including their
head and neck. This is
necessary since the babies' neck is
weak while their head is
proportionally bigger and heavier in
relation to their body. In a collision, if
a baby is travelling in a rearward-
facing seat, the forces of an impact are
distributed throughout the strongest
parts of the body, i.e. the back and
shoulders. Babies must always be
protected by a suitable restraining
system when travelling.
Babies travelling in a
rearward-facing seat or
children travelling in a child
seat may be seriously injured in the
event of airbag activation. This could
happen because the seatback of the
child's seat may be positioned
extremely close to the airbag at the
moment it is inflated. Do not place an
infant or a child in the front passenger
seat at any time.