Lotus 2005 Elise Owner's Handbook Manual page 10

properly restrained. Children, and short adults are at the great-
est risk. Be sure to follow all instructions and warnings in the
handbook (See page 21 to 27).
Don't Drink and Drive
Alcohol and driving don't mix. Even one drink can reduce your
ability to respond to changing conditions, and your reaction time
gets worse with every additional drink. So don't drink and drive,
and don't let your friends drink and drive, either.
Control Your Speed
Excessive speed is a major factor in crash injuries and deaths.
Generally, the higher the speed the greater the risk, but serious
accidents can also occur at lower speeds. Never drive faster
than is safe for current conditions, regardless of the maximum
speed posted.
Keep Your Car in Safe Condition
Having a tire blowout or a mechanical failure can be extremely
hazardous. To reduce the possibility of such problems, check
your tire pressures and condition frequently, and perform all
regularly scheduled maintenance (see separate Maintenance
Record booklet).
Safety Features
Your car is equipped with many features that work together
to protect you and your passenger during a crash. The Lotus
Elise has been designed to comply with applicable safety
regulations.
The Elise has passive safety features which include:
• A cockpit tub surrounded by substantial chassis side
frames.
• Energy absorbing front composite 'crash structure'.
• Energy absorbing rear steel 'crash structure'.
• Side sill foam pads.
• A seat belt mounting frame incorporating a roof hoop
• Extruded aluminium door beams.
• A collapsible steering column.
• Airbags for both driver and passenger.
Active safety features include:
• Lap and diagonal inertia reel seat belts with impact sensing
pre-tensioners.
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