Lexus GS350 2009 Owner's Manual

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1-7. Safety information
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Forward facing  Convertible seat
Booster seat
■Selecting an appropriate child restraint system
●Use a child restraint system appropriate for the child until the child becomes
large enough to properly wear the vehicle’s seat belt.
●If a child is too large for a child restraint system, sit the child on a rear seat and
use the vehicle’s seat belt.
( → P. 6 4 )
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CAUTION
■Using a child restraint system
The use of a child restraint system not suitable for the vehicle may not properly
secure the infant or child, resulting in death or serious injury.
■Child restraint precautions
●For effective protection in automobile accidents and sudden stops, a child must
be properly restrained, using a seat belt or child restraint system depending on
the age and size of the child. Holding a child in your arms is not a substitute for a
child restraint system. In an accident, the child can be crushed against the wind-
shield, or between you and the vehicle’s interior.
●Lexus strongly urges the use of a proper child restraint system that conforms to
the size of the child, installed on the rear seat. According to accident statistics, the
child is safer when properly restrained in the rear seat than in the front seat.
●Never install a rear-facing child restraint system on the front passenger seat even
if the “AIR BAG OFF” indicator light is illuminated. In the event of an accident, the
force of the rapid inflation of the front passenger airbag can cause death or seri-
ous injury to the child if the rear-facing child restraint system is installed on the
front passenger seat.
●A forward-facing child restraint system may be installed on the front passenger
seat only when it is unavoidable. A child restraint system that requires a top tether
strap should not be used in the front passenger seat since there is no top tether
strap anchor for the front passenger seat. Adjust the seatback as upright as possi-
ble and always move the seat as far back as possible even if the “AIR BAG OFF”
indicator light is illuminated, because th e front passenger airbag could inflate with
considerable speed and force. Otherwise, the child may be killed or seriously
injured.
●Do not use the seat belt extender when installing a child restraint system on the
front or rear passenger seat. If installing a child restraint system with the seat belt
extender connected to the seat belt, the seat belt will not securely hold the child
restraint system, which could cause death or serious injury to the child or other
passengers in the event of a sudden stop, sudden swerve or accident.
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CAUTION
■Child restraint precautions
●Do not allow the child to lean his/her head or any part of his/her body against the
door or the area of the seat, front pillar or roof side rail from which the side air-
bags or curtain shield airbags deploy even if the child is seated in the child
restraint system. It is dangerous if the side airbags and curtain shield airbags
inflate, and the impact could cause de ath or serious injury to the child.
●Make sure you have complied with all inst allation instructions provided by the
child restraint manufacturer and that the sy stem is properly secured. If it is not
secured properly, it may cause death or seri ous injury to the child in the event of a
sudden stop, sudden swerve or an accident.
■Child restraint lock function belt precaution
Do not allow children to play with the child restraint lock function belt. If the belt
becomes twisted around a child’s neck, it will not be possible to pull the belt out
leading to choking or other serious in juries that could result in death.
If this occurs and the buckle cannot be un fastened, scissors should be used to cut
the belt.
■When the child restraint system is not in use
●Keep the child restraint system properly secu red on the seat even if it is not in use.
Do not store the restraint unsecured in the passenger compartment.
●If it is necessary to detach the child restraint system, remove it from the vehicle or
store it securely in the trunk. This will prevent it from injuring passengers in the
event of a sudden stop, su dden swerve or accident.
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1-7. Safety information
Before driving
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Installing child restraints
Follow the child restraint system manufacturer’s instructions. Firmly
secure child restraints to the rear seats using the LATCH anchors or a seat
belt. Attach the top tether strap when installing a child restraint.
The lap/shoulder belt can be used if your child restraint system is not com-
patible with the LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) system.
Child restraint LATCH
anchors
LATCH anchors are provided
for the outboard rear seats.
(Buttons displaying the location
of the anchors are attached to
the seats.)
Seat belts equipped with a
child restraint locking mecha-
nism (ALR/ELR belts except
driver’s seat belt)
Anchor bracket
(for top tether strap)
Anchor brackets are provided
for all rear seats.
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Installation with LATCH systemType A Widen the gap between
the seat cushion and seat-
back slightly.
Latch the hooks of the
lower straps onto the
LATCH anchors.
If the child restraint has a
top tether strap, the top
tether strap should be
latched onto the top tether
strap anchor.
For owners in Canada:
The symbol on a child restraint sys-
tem indicates the presence of a
lower connector system.
Canada only
STEP1
STEP2
STEP3
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Type BWiden the gap between
the seat cushion and seat-
back slightly.
Latch the buckles onto the
LATCH anchors.
If the child restraint has a
top tether strap, the top
tether strap should be
latched onto the top tether
strap anchor.
For owners in Canada:
The symbol on a child restraint sys-
tem indicates the presence of a
lower connector system.
Canada only
STEP1
STEP2
STEP3
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Installing child restraints using a seat belt (child restraint lock function belt)
■Rear-facing  Infant seat/convertible seat
Place the child restraint system on
the rear seat facing the rear of the
vehicle.
Run the seat belt through the child
restraint system and insert the
plate into the buckle. Make sure
that the belt is not twisted.
Fully extend the shoulder belt and
then allow it to retract slightly in
order to activate the ALR lock
mode.
Lock mode allows the seat belt to
retract only.
STEP1
STEP2
STEP3
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While pushing the child restraint
system down into the rear seat,
allow the shoulder belt to retract
until the child restraint system is
securely in place.
After the shoulder belt has
retracted to a point where there is
no slack in the belt, pull the belt to
check that it cannot be extended.
■Forward-facing  Convertible seat
Place the child restraint system on
the seat facing the front of the vehi-
cle.
Run the seat belt through the child
restraint system and insert the
plate into the buckle. Make sure
that the belt is not twisted.
Fully extend the shoulder strap and
then allow it to retract slightly into
the ALR lock mode.
Lock mode allows the seat belt to
retract only.
STEP4
STEP1
STEP2
STEP3
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While pushing the child restraint
system into the rear seat, allow the
shoulder belt to retract until the
child restraint system is securely in
place.
After the shoulder belt has
retracted to a point where there is
no slack in the belt, pull the belt to
check that it cannot be extended.
If the child restraint has a top tether strap, the top tether strap
should be latched onto the top tether strap anchor. (
→P. 1 1 9 )
■ Booster seat
Place the child restraint system on
the seat facing the front of the vehi-
cle.
Sit the child in the child restraint
system. Fit the seat belt to the child
restraint system according to the
manufacturer’s instructions and
insert the plate into the buckle.
Make sure that the belt is not
twisted.
Check that the shoulder belt is cor-
rectly positioned over the child’s
shoulder, and that the lap belt is as
low as possible. (→
P. 6 4)
STEP4
STEP5
STEP1
STEP2
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Removing a child restraint installed with a seat beltPush the buckle release button
and fully retract the seat belt.
Child restraint systems with a top tether strapSecure the child restraint system
using a seat belt or lower anchors,
and move the head restraint in
place at the lowest position.
Open the anchor bracket cover,
latch the hook onto the anchor
bracket and tighten the top tether
strap.
Make sure the top tether strap is
securely latched.
STEP1
STEP2
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