2001 Honda Odyssey Owner's Manual - Page 13

Protecting Adults Introduction The following pages provide instructions on how to properly protect the driver and other adult occupants. These instructions also apply to children who have outgrown child seats and are large enough to wear lap/shoulder belts. (See page 41 for important additional guidelines on how to properly protect larger children.) 1. Close and Lock the Doors After everyone has entered the vehicle, be sure the doors and tailgate are closed and locked. Your vehicle has a door and tailgate monitor light on the instrument panel to indicate when a specific door or the tailgate is not tightly closed. For safety, locking the doors reduces the chance that a passenger, especially a child, will open a door while the vehicle is moving and accidentally fall out. It also reduces the chance of someone being thrown out of the vehicle during a crash. For security, locked doors can prevent an outsider from unexpectedly opening a door when you come to a stop. See page 83 for how to lock the doors. Driver and Passenger Safety 2.Adjust the Front Seats Any driver who sits too close to the steering wheel is at risk of being seriously injured or killed by striking the steering wheel, or from being struck by an inflating airbag during a crash.