Lexus RX350 Manual page 36

36
1-1. For safe use
WARNING
SRS airbag precautions
■
Observe the following precautions
regarding the SRS airbags.
Failure to do so may cause death or seri-
ous 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 the driver's air-
bag is the 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 breast-
bone. 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.
Although vehicle designs vary, many
drivers 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, tilt
it downward. This points the airbag
toward your chest instead of your head
and neck.
The seat should be adjusted as recom-
mended by NHTSA above, while still
maintaining control of the foot pedals,
steering wheel, and your view of the
instrument panel controls.
● If the seat belt extender has been con-
nected to the front seat belt buckles
but the seat belt extender has not also
been fastened to the latch plate of the
seat belt, the SRS front airbags will
judge that the driver and front passen-
ger are wearing the seat belt even
though the seat belt has not been con-
nected. In this case, the SRS front air-
bags may not activate correctly in a
collision, resulting in death or serious
injury in the event of a collision. Be
sure to wear the seat belt with the seat
belt extender.