Mazda CX-8 Quick Manual page 97

Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
Positioning the Shoulder Portion of the Seat Belt:
Improper positioning of the shoulder portion of the seat belt is dangerous. Always make sure
the shoulder portion of the seat belt is positioned across your shoulder and near your neck,
but never under your arm, on your neck, or on your upper arm.
Positioning the Lap Portion of the Seat Belt:
The lap portion of the seat belt worn too high is dangerous. In a collision, this would
concentrate the impact force directly on the abdominal area, causing serious injury. Wear the
lap portion of the belt snugly and as low as possible.
In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is significantly more likely to die than a person wearing
a seat belt.
Instructions for Use of Seat Belt Assemblies:
Seatbelts are designed to bear upon the bony structure of the body, and should be worn low
across the front of the pelvis or the pelvis, chest and shoulders, as applicable; wearing the lap
section of the belt across the abdominal area must be avoided.
Seatbelts should be adjusted as firmly as possible, consistent with comfort, to provide the
protection for which they have been designed. A slack belt will greatly reduce the protection
afforded to the wearer.
Care should be taken to avoid contamination of the webbing with polishes, oils and
chemicals, and particularly battery acid. Cleaning may safely be carried out using mild soap
and water. The belt should be replaced if webbing becomes frayed, contaminated or
damaged.
It is essential to replace the entire assembly after it has been worn in a severe impact even if
damage to the assembly is not obvious.
Belts should not be worn with straps twisted.
Each belt assembly must only be used by one occupant; it is dangerous to put a belt around a
child being carried on the occupant's lap.
No modifications or additions should be made by the user which will either prevent the seat
belt adjusting devices from operating to remove slack, or prevent the seat belt assembly from
being adjusted to remove slack.
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