Oldsmobile Cutlass 1998 s Owner's Guide

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Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle. 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 mare distmce,
and your strongest bones take the forces. That's~why
safety belts make such good sense.
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@’ If I’m a good driver, and I never drive far from
A: You may be an excellent driver, but if you’re in an
home, why should I wear safety belts?
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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How to Wear Safety Belts Properly
Adults
This part is only €or people of adult size.
Be aware
that there are special things to know about safety
belts and children. And there are different rules for smaller children and babies.
If a child will be riding in your
vehicle,
see the part of this manual called “Children.”
Follow those rules for everyone’s protection.
First, you’ll want to know which restraint systems your
vehicle has.
We’ll
start with the driver position.
Driver Position
This part describes the driver’s restraint system.
Lap-Shoulder Belt
The driver has a lap-shoulder belt. Here’s how to wear
it properly.
1. Close and lock the door.
2. Adjust the seat (to see how, see “Seats” in the Index)
so you can sit up straight.
3. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you.
Don’t let it get twisted.
The shoulder belt may lock
if you pull the belt across
you very quickly.
If this happens, let the belt go back
slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt across you
more slowly.
4. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.

Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster
Before you begin to drive, move the shoulder belt adjuster to
the height that is right for you.
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The safety belt locks if there’s a sudden stop or crash, or
if you pull the belt very quickly out of the retractor.

Adjust the height so that the shoulder portion of the belt is
centered on your shoulder. The belt should be away fkom
your face and neck, but not falling o€€ your shoulder.
&: What’s wrong with this? You can be seriously hurt if your shoulder belt is
too loose. In a crash, you would move forward
too much, which
could increase injury. The
shoulder belt should fit against your body.
A: The shoulder belt is too loose. It won’t give nearly
as much protection this way.
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Q: Mat’s wrong with this?
You can be seriously injured
if your belt is
buckled in the wrong place like this. In a crash,
the belt would
go up over your abdomen. The
belt forces would be there, not at the pelvic
bones. This could cause serious internal injuries.
Always buckle your belt into the buckle
nearest you.
A: The belt is buckled in the wrong place.
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Q: What's wrong with this?
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A: The shoulder belt is worn under the arm. It should
be
worn over the shoulder at all times.
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You can be seriously injured if you wear the
shoulder belt under your arm.
In a crash, your
body would move
too far forward, which would
increase the chance
of head andneck injury.
Also, the belt would apply
too much force to the
ribs,
which aren't as strong as shoulder bomes.
You could also severely injure internal organs
like your liver or spleen.
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&.’ What’s wrong with this?
A: The belt is twisted across the body.
You can be seriously injured by a twisted belt. In
a crash,
you wouldn’t have the full width of the
belt
to spread impact forces. If a belt is twisted,
make it straight
so it can work properly, or ask
your retailer to
fix it.