belt BUICK SKYLARK 1993 Owner's Guide

4. You can make the belt longer by tilting the buckle
and pulling it along the belt.
5.
6.
Put the restraint on the seat. Follow the instructions
for the child restraint.
Secure the child in the child restraint
as the
instructions
say.

7. Run the belt through or around the child restraint. 9. To make it tight, pull the belt while you push down
The child restraint instructions will show
you how. on
the child restraint. If the belt won’t stay tight,
8. Put the hook on tk free end through the slot in the
latch plate. switch
it end for end.
directions-to be sure it is secure.
55

Tu remove the infantlchild seat restraint:
1. Push the button on the safety belt buckle and remove
the special latch plate. Leave the latch plate
on the
special belt.
2. Push the spring on the hook near the door and
remove the special 'belt.
6
56

Children who have outgrown child restraints should
wear the vehicle's safety belts.
If you have the choice,
a child should sit next to a
window
so the child can wear a lap-shoulder belt and
get the additional restraint a shoulder belt can provide.
Accident statistics show that children
are safer if they
are restrained in the rear seat. But they need to use the
safety belts properly.
0 Children who aren't buckled up can be thrown out in
a crash.
* Children who aren't buckkd up can strike other
people who are.
1 I 57

f&’ What if a child is wearing a lap-shoulder belt,
but the child
is so small that the shoulder belt is
very close to the child’s face OF neck?
A: Move the child toward the center of the vehicle, but
be sure that the shoulder belt still is on the child’s
shoulder,
so that in a crash the child’s upper body
would have the restraint that belts provide.
If the
child is
so small that the shoulder belt is still very
close to the child’s face or neck, you might want to
place the child
in the center seat position, the one
that has only a lap belt.

Here a child is sitting in a seat that has a
lap-shoulder belt, but the shoulder part is behind
the child.
If the child wears the belt in this way, in
a crash the child might slide under the belt. The
belt’s force would then be applied right
on the
child’s abdomen. That could cause serious or
fatal injuries.’
Wherever the child sits, the lap portion of the belt
should be worn low, snug below the hips, and just
touching the child’s thighs. This applies belt force to the
Ghild’s pelvic bones
in a crash.
Safety Belt Extender
If the vehicle’s safety belt will fasten around you, you
should use it. The automatic lap-shoulder belt has plenty
of extra length built
in, so it will fasten around almost
all people.
But
if a safety belt isn’t long enough to fasten, your
dealer will order you an extender. It’s free. When you go
in to order it, take the heaviest coat you will wear,
so the
extender will be long enough for you. The extender will
be just for you, and just for the seat in your vehicle that
you choose. Don’t let someone else use it, and use it
only for the seat it is made to fit. To wear it, just attach it
to the regular safety belt.
Checking Your Restraint Systems
Now and then, make sure all your belts, buckles, latch
plates, retractors, anchorages and reminder systems are working properly. Look for any loose parts or damage.
If you see anything that might keep a restraint system
from doing its job, have it repaired.
59

Replacing Safety Belts After a Crash
If you've had a crash, do you need new belts?
After a very minor collision, nothing may be necessary. But if the belts were stretched, as they would be if worn
during
a more severe crash, then you need new belts.
If belts are cut or damaged, replace them. Collision
damage also may mean you will have to have safety belt
parts, like the retractor, replaced or anchorage locations
repaired
-- even if the belt wasn't being used at the time
of the collision.
If your seat adjuster won't work after a crash, the special
part of the safety belt that goes through the seat to the
adjuster
may need to be replaced.
e.' What's wrong with this?
'1
A: The belt is torn.
I
/! CAUTION:
Torn 'or frayed belts may not, lprotect you in a
crash. They caln rip apart under impact forces. It,
a belt is twn 'or ff rayed, g,et a new one right away.

time. A green arrow means you may drive ir&that lane. ’
and days these systems are in effect. -,i ““ ff. 4 -’ ~‘’ - .. :
1 Look for the signs posted to warn drivers. what bQ.urs. .. . ,.
1 Pavement Markings
NO
PASSING I’
Pavement markings add to traffic signs and signals.
They give information to drivers without taking
attention from the roadway. A solid yellow line on your
side of the road or lane means “don’t cross.”
Your Own Signals
..
Drivers signal to others, too. It’s not only mare polite,
it’s safer
to let other drivers know what you are doing.
And in some places the law requires iver si.gnals.
L. ..
Turn and lane change signals. Always signal: when you
plan to turn or change lanes.
If necessary, you can use hand signals out the window:
Left arm straight out for a left turn, down for slow or
about-to-stop, and up for a right turn.
Slowing down. If time allows, tap the brake pedal once
or twice in advance of slowing or stopping. This warns
the driver behind you.
Disabled. Your four-way flashers signal that your
vehicle is disabled or
is a hazard. See “Hazard Warning
Flashers” in the Index.
Traffic Officer
The traffic police officer is also a source of important
information. The officer’s signals govern, no matter
what the traffic lights or other
signs say.
The next section discusses some of the Toad conditions
you may encounter.
._ . .-_. ;: , , .c**“jy;, “C.$ -,a,, ..,... ’ : ., - , . ,.> p :, , ,. . +.
Defensive Driving $@, *-<; .I i.?;’ * i.
, +& ’ . i *. , .. . I I- ., I.. .. \e. . *, ,
The best advice anyone can give about\driving is: Drive
defensively.
Please
start with a very important safety device in your
Buick: Buckle up. (See “Safety Belts” in the Index.)

When you drive into a curve at night, it's harder to see
the road ahead
of you because it bends away from the
straight beams
of your lights. This is one good reason to
drive slower.
Steering in Emergencies
There are times when steering can be more effective
than braking. For example,
you come over a hill and
find a truck stopped in your lane, or a car suddenly pulls
out from nowhere, or a child darts out from between
parked cars and stops right in front
Qf you. You can
avoid these problems by braking
-- if you can stop in
time. But sometimes you can't; there isn't room. That's
the time for evasive action
-- steering around the
problem.
Your Buick can perform very well in emergencies like
these. First apply your brakes. It is better to remove as
much speed as you can from a possible collision. Then
steer around the problem, to the left or right depending
on the space available.
An emergency like this requires close attention and a
quick decision.
If you are holding the steering wheel at
the recommended
9 and 3 o'clock positions, you can
turn it a full
180 degrees very quickly without removing
either hand. But you have to act fast, steer quickly, and just as
quickly straighten the wheel once you have
avoided the object. You must then be prepared to steer
back to your original lane and then brake to a controlled
stop.
Depending
on your speed, this can be rather violent for
an unprepared driver. This is one of the reasons driving
experts recommend that you use your safety belts and
keep both hands on the steering wheel.
-1
3'
The fact that such emergency situations are always
possible is a good
reason to practice defensive driving at
all times.
155

But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here’s
, how to do it:
1 1. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into.“P”
I (Park) yet.
I 2. Have someone place chocks under.the trailer wheels.
1
I
I I
I 3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your parking
brake, and then shift to
“F’” (Park).
5. Release the regular brakes.
,. I I
~ When You Are Ready to Leave After
I Parking on a Hill
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re
pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule for more
on this. Things that are especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transaxle fluid (don’t overfill),
engine oil, belt, cooling system, and brake adjustment.
Each of these is covered in this manual, and the Index
will help you find them quickly.
If you’re trailering, it’s
a good idea to review these sections before
you start
your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts are
tight.
I 1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while you:
Start your engine;
0 Shift into a gear; and
0 Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
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