Saab 2004 9-3 Owner's Manual page 12

12 Safety
Correct seating position
Correct position for safety belt
WARNING
Proper positioning of the safety belt is
extremely important.
• An out of position safety belt can result
in the wearer sliding underneath the
belt in a crash (submarining) and
injury can result from the lap portion
cutting into the abdomen.
• Never fasten the safety belt with the
shoulder belt behind the body or pull
the belt off the shoulder and under the
arm.
• Two people must never share one
safety belt. In the event of a crash
those sharing a belt risk being crushed
together and injured.
Consider this:
• Position the lap strap snugly and low
across the hips so that it just touches the
thighs.
The shoulder strap must be as far in on
the shoulder as possible.
• Check to ensure that the belt is not twisted
or rubbing against any sharp edges.
• There should not be any slack in the belt.
Pull the belt tight – particularly important
when thick outer clothing is worn. It
is advisable to remove thick items of
clothing.
• Refrain from tilting the backrest more than
necessary, as the safety belt provides
better protection when the seat is in the
more upright position.
• Only one person per safety belt!
• For most of the time a safety belt is worn,
the retractor will allow the wearer freedom
of movement. The retractor locks up auto-
matically if the belt is jerked or withdrawn
sharply, the car tilts, the brakes are
applied hard or a crash occurs.
• Children up to 6 years of age must always
be seated in a child seat. Saab recom-
mends the use of a child seat for children
up to the age of 10.
• Children who have grown out of a child
seat should be restrained by the car's
standard three-point belts. Make sure that
the shoulder belt is not in contact with the
neck or throat. If it is, a booster seat/cush-
ion may be necessary.