BUICK LESABRE 1993 Owner's Manual

Why Safety Belts Work
When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as it
goes.
I
For example, if the bike is going 10 mph (16 km/h), so
is the child.
--I <-
When the bike hits the block, it stops. But the child
keeps going!
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F
I L
Take the simplest “car.” Suppose it’s just a seat on
wheels. Put
someone
on it.
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Get it up to speed. Then stop the “car.” The rider doesn’t
stop. The
person keeps going until stopped by something.
In a real vehicle, it could
be the windshield ...
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or the instrument panel ... or the safety belts!
With safety belts, you slow down as the vehicle does.
You get more time to stop. You stop over more distance,
and your strongest bones take the forces. That's why safety belts make such good sense.
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Here Are Questions Many People Ask
About Safety Belts -- and the
Answers
@ Won’t I be trapped in the vehicle after an
accident if I’m wearing a safety belt?
A: You could be -- whether you’re wearing a safety
belt or not. But you can easily unbuckle a safety
belt, even if you’re upside down. And your chance
of being conscious during and after an accident,
so
you can unbuckle and get out, is much greater if
you are belted.
@ Why don’t they just put in air bags so people
A: “Air bags,” or Supplemental Inflatable Restraint
won’t have to wear safety belts?
systems, are in some vehicles today and will be in
more of them in the future. But they are
supplemental systems only
-- so they work with safety
belts, not instead of them. Every “air bag”
system ever offered for sale has required the use of
safety belts. Even if you’re in a vehicle that has
“air bags,” you still have to buckle up to get the
most protection. That’s true not only in frontal
collisions, but especially in side and other
collisions.
@’ If I’m a good driver, and I never drive far from
home, why should
I wear safety belts?
A: You may be an excellent driver, but if you’re in an
accident
-- even one that isn’t your fault -- you and
your passengers can be
hurt. Being a good driver
doesn’t protect you from things beyond your
control, such as bad drivers.
Most accidents occur within
25 miles (40 km) of home.
And the greatest number of serious injuries and deaths
occur at speeds
of less than 40 mph (65 km/h).
Safety belts are for everyone.
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Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the key is turned to “Run” or “Start,” a light will
come
on for about eight seconds to remind people to
fasten their safety belts. Unless the driver’s safety belt is
buckled,
a tone will also sound.
How To Wear Safety Belts Properly,
Adults
This section is only for people of adult size.
’ /d CAUTION:
There are special things to know about safety
belts and children. And there are different rules
far babies and smaller children. If a child will be
I dng in your Buick, see the section after this
nne, called “Children.” Follow those rules for
ev.?ryone’s protection.
I
First, you’ll want to know which restraint systems your
vehicle has.
We’ll start with the driver position.
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Driver Position
This section describes the driver’s restraint system.
Lap-Shoulder Belt
B
The driver has a lap-shoulder belt. Here’s how to wear it
properly.
1.
2.
Close and lock the door.
Adjust the seat (to see how, see “Seats” in the Index)
so you can sit up straight.
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3.
4.
Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you.
Don’t let it get twisted.
Push the latch plate
into the buckle until it clicks.
If the belt isn’t long enough, see “Safety Belt
Extender” at the end of this section.
Make sure the release button
on the buckle faces
upward or outward
so you would be able to unbuckle
it quickly if you ever had to. The
lap part
of the belt should be worn low and snug on
the hips, just touching
the thighs. In a crash, this applies
force to
the strong pelvic bones. And you’d be less
likely
to slide under the lap belt. If you slid under it, the
belt would apply force at your abdomen. This could
cause serious or even fatal injuries. The shoulder belt
should go over the shoulder and across the chest. These
parts
of the body are best able to take belt restraining
forces.
The safety belt locks
if there’s a sudden stop or crash.
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Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster
You can move the shoulder belt adjuster to the height
that is right for you.
1
I - --'
/" -
.. ,
To move it up or down, squeeze the release handle.
When you release the handle, try
to move it down a little
to make sure it has locked into position.
You can move the adjuster up from a lower position by
pushing the bottom
of the release handle.
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L)
For a person of averape height: Use a position
somewhere
in the middle.
Adjust the height
so that the shoulder portion of the belt
is properly positioned
on your shoulder, away from your
face and neck.
To help you find a height that is right for you, follow
these guidelines:
For a tall person: Use the upper
or upper-middle
position.
For a short person: Use the lower or lower-middle
position.
&: What’s wrong with this?
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