belt Lexus GS350 2009 Owner's Guide

98
1-7. Safety information
GS_G_U (OM30B43U)
April 27, 2009 10:48 am
CAUTION
■SRS airbag precautions
Observe the following precautions regarding the airbags. Failure to do so may
cause death or serious injury.
●The driver and all passengers in the vehicle must wear their seat belts properly.
The SRS airbags are supplemental devices to be used with the seat belts.
●The SRS driver airbag deploys with considerable force, and can cause death or
serious injury especially if the driver is very close to the airbag. The National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”) advises:
Since the risk zone for driver airbag is th e first 2 - 3 in. (50 - 75 mm) of inflation,
placing yourself 10 in. (250 mm) from your driver airbag provides you with a
clear margin of safety. This distance is measured from the center of the steering
wheel to your breastbone. If you sit less than 10 in. (250 mm) away now, you can
change your driving position in several ways:
• Move your seat to the rear as far as you can while still reaching the pedals
comfortably.
• Slightly recline the back of the seat. Al though vehicle designs vary, many driv-
ers can achieve the 10 in. (250 mm) distance, even with the driver seat all the
way forward, simply by reclining the back of the seat somewhat. If reclining
the back of your seat makes it hard to see the road, raise yourself by using a
firm, non-slippery cushion, or raise the seat if your vehicle has that feature.
• If your steering wheel is adjustable, ti lt it downward. This points the airbag
toward your chest instead of your head and neck.
The seat should be adjusted as recommended by NHTSA above, while still main-
taining control of the foot pedals, steering wheel, and your view of the instrument
panel controls.
GS_U_G.book Page 98 Monday, April 27, 2009 10:50 AM

99
1-7. Safety information
1
Before driving
GS_G_U (OM30B43U)
April 27, 2009 10:48 am
CAUTION
■SRS airbag precautions
●The SRS front passenger airbag also deploys with considerable force, and can
cause death or serious injury especially if the front passenger is very close to the
airbag. The front passenger seat should be as far from the airbag as possible with
the seatback adjusted, so the front passenger sits upright.
●Improperly seated and/or restrained infants and children can be killed or seri-
ously injured by a deploying airbag. An infant or child who is too small to use a
seat belt should be properly secured using a child restraint system. Lexus strongly
recommends that all infants and children be placed in the rear seats of the vehicle
and properly restrained. The rear seats are the safest for infants and children.
( → P. 1 0 9 )
●If the seat belt extender has been con-
nected to the driver’s seat belt buckle but
the seat belt extender has not also been
fastened to the latch plate of the driver’s
seat belt, the SRS driver’s airbag system will
judge that the driver is wearing the seat belt
even though the seat belt has not been
connected. In this case, the driver’s airbag
may not activate correctly in a collision,
resulting in death or serious injury in the
event of collision. Be sure to wear the seat
belt with the seat belt extender.
GS_U_G.book Page 99 Monday, April 27, 2009 10:50 AM

103
1
1-7. Safety information
Before driving
GS_G_U (OM30B43U)
April 27, 2009 10:48 am
Front passenger occupant classification system
Your vehicle is equipped with a front passenger occupant classification sys-
tem. This system detects the conditions of the front passenger seat and
activates or deactivates the devices for front passenger.
SRS warning light
“AIR BAG OFF” indicator light
“AIR BAG ON” indicator light
Front passenger’s seat belt reminder light
GS_U_G.book Page 103 Monday, April 27, 2009 10:50 AM

104
1-7. Safety information
GS_G_U (OM30B43U)
April 27, 2009 10:48 am
Condition and operation in the front passenger occupant classification system
■Adult*1
■Child*3 or child restraint system*4
Indicator/
warning light “AIR BAG ON” and “AIR BAG OFF”
indicator lights “A I R B A G
ON”
SRS warning light Off
Front passenger’s seat belt reminder light Flashing
*2
DevicesFront passenger airbag and knee airbag
Activated
Side airbag in the front passenger seat
Curtain shield airbag
on the front passenger side
Front passenger’s seat belt pretensioner
Indicator/
warning light “AIR BAG ON” and “AIR BAG OFF”
indicator lights “A I R B A G
OFF”*5
SRS warning light Off
Front passenger’s seat belt reminder light Flashing
*2
DevicesFront passenger airbag and knee airbag
Deactivated
Side airbag in the front passenger seat
Curtain shield airbag
on the front passenger side Activated
Front passenger’s seat belt pretensioner
GS_U_G.book Page 104 Monday, April 27, 2009 10:50 AM

105
1-7. Safety information
1
Before driving
GS_G_U (OM30B43U)
April 27, 2009 10:48 am
■Unoccupied
■ System malfunction
Indicator/
warning light “AIR BAG ON” and “AIR BAG OFF”
indicator lights Not illumi-
nated
SRS warning light Off
Front passenger’s seat belt reminder light
Devices Front passenger airbag and knee airbag
Deactivated
Side airbag in the front passenger seat
Curtain shield airbag
on the front passenger side Activated
Front passenger’s seat belt pretensioner Deactivated
Indicator/
warning light “AIR BAG ON” and “AIR BAG OFF”
indicator lights “A I R B A G
OFF”
SRS warning light On
Front passenger’s seat belt reminder light Off
Devices Front passenger airbag and knee airbag
Deactivated
Side airbag in the front passenger seat
Curtain shield airbag
on the front passenger side Activated
Front passenger’s seat belt pretensioner
GS_U_G.book Page 105 Monday, April 27, 2009 10:50 AM

106
1-7. Safety information
GS_G_U (OM30B43U)
April 27, 2009 10:48 am
*1: The system judges a person of adult size as an adult. When a smaller
adult sits in the front passenger seat, the system may recognize him/
her as a child depending on his/her physique and posture.
*
2: In the event the front passenger does not wear a seat belt.
*3: When a large child who has outgrown a child restraint system sits in
the front passenger seat, the sy stem may recognize him/her as an
adult depending on his/her physique and posture.
*
4: Never install a rear-facing child restraint system on the front passen-
ger seat. A forward-facing child restraint system should only be
installed on the front passenger seat when it is unavoidable.
(→ P. 1 0 9 )
*
5: In case the indicator is not illuminated, consult this manual on how to install the child restraint system properly. (→ P. 113)
CAUTION
■Front passenger occupant classification system precautions
Observe the following precautions regarding the front passenger occupant classifi-
cation system.
Failure to do so may cause death or serious injury.
●Wear the seat belt properly.
●Make sure the front passenger’s seat belt tab has not been left inserted into the
buckle before someone sits in the front passenger seat.
GS_U_G.book Page 106 Monday, April 27, 2009 10:50 AM

107
1-7. Safety information
1
Before driving
GS_G_U (OM30B43U)
April 27, 2009 10:48 am
CAUTION
■Front passenger occupant classification system precautions
●Make sure the “AIR BAG OFF” indicator light is not illuminated when using the
seat belt extender for the front passen ger seat. If the “AIR BAG OFF” indicator
light is illuminated, disconnect the extender tongue from the seat belt buckle,
then reconnect the seat belt. Reconnect the seat belt extender after making sure
the “AIR BAG ON” indicator light is illuminated. If you use the seat belt extender
while the “AIR BAG OFF” indicator light is illuminated, the front passenger air-
bag, side airbag on the front passenger side and front passenger knee airbag may
not activate correctly, which could cause death or serious injury in the event of a
collision.
●Do not apply a heavy load to the front passenger seat or equipment.
●Do not put weight on the front passenger seat by putting your hands or feet on
the front passenger seat seatback from the rear seat.
●Do not let a rear seat passenger lift th e front passenger seat with their feet or
press on the seatback with their legs.
●Do not put objects under the front passenger seat.
●Do not recline the front passenger seatback so far that it touches a rear seat. This
may cause the “AIR BAG OFF” indicator ligh t to be illuminated, which indicates
that the passenger’s airbags will not deploy in the event of a severe accident. If the
seatback touches the rear se at, return the seatback to a position where it does
not touch the rear seat. Keep the front pa ssenger seatback as upright as possible
when the vehicle is moving. Reclining the seatback excessively may lessen the
effectiveness of the seat belt system.
GS_U_G.book Page 107 Monday, April 27, 2009 10:50 AM

108
1-7. Safety information
GS_G_U (OM30B43U)
April 27, 2009 10:48 am
CAUTION
■Front passenger occupant classification system precautions
●If an adult sits in the front passenger se at, the “AIR BAG ON” indicator light is illu-
minated. If the “AIR BAG OFF” indicator is illuminated, ask the passenger to sit
up straight, well back in the seat, feet on the floor, and with the seat belt worn cor-
rectly. If the “AIR BAG OFF” indicator still remains illuminated, either ask the pas-
senger to move to the rear seat, or if th at is not possible, move the front passenger
seat fully rearward.
●When it is unavoidable to install a forward-facing child restraint system on the
front passenger seat, install the child rest raint system on the front passenger seat
in the proper order. ( →P. 1 1 3 )
●Do not modify or remove the front seat.
●Do not kick the front passenger seat or subject it to severe impact. Otherwise,
the SRS warning light may come on to indicate a malfunction in the detection sys-
tem. In this case, contact your Lexus dealer immediately.
●Do not use a seat accessory, such as a cushion or seat cover, that covers the seat
cushion surface.
●Child restraint systems installed on the rear seat should not contact the front seat-
backs.
GS_U_G.book Page 108 Monday, April 27, 2009 10:50 AM

109
1
1-7. Safety information
Before driving
GS_G_U (OM30B43U)
April 27, 2009 10:48 am
Child restraint systems
Points to rememberStudies have shown that installing a ch ild restraint on a rear seat is much
safer than installing one to the front passenger seat.
● Choose a child restraint system that suits your vehicle and is appropri-
ate to the age and size of the child.
● For installation details, follow the instructions provided with the child
restraint system.
General installation instructions ar e provided in this manual.
(→ P. 113)
Types of child restraints
Child restraint systems are classified into the following 3 types according
to the age and size of the child.
Rear facing  Infant seat/convertible seat
A child restraint system for a small child or baby must itself be properly
restrained on the seat with the lap portion of the lap/shoulder belt.
The laws of all 50 states of the U.S.A. and Canada now require the use of
child restraint systems.
GS_U_G.book Page 109 Monday, April 27, 2009 10:50 AM

110
1-7. Safety information
GS_G_U (OM30B43U)
April 27, 2009 10:48 am
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 )
GS_U_G.book Page 110 Monday, April 27, 2009 10:50 AM