2010 Lexus ES 350 Owners Manual - Page 158

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1-7. Safety information

1

CAUTION

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Child restraint precautions

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For effective protection in automobile accidents and sudden stops, a child must

be properly restrained, using a seat belt or child restraint system depending on

the age and size of the child. Holding a child in your arms is not a substitute for a

child restraint system. In an accident, the child can be crushed against the wind-

shield, or between you and the vehicle's interior.

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Lexus strongly urges the use of a proper child restraint system that conforms to

the size of the child, installed on the rear seat. According to accident statistics, the

child is safer when properly restrained in the rear seat than in the front seat.

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Never install a rear-facing child restraint system on the front passenger seat even

if “AIR BAG OFF” indicator light is illuminated. In the event of an accident, the

force of the rapid inflation of the front passenger airbag can cause death or seri-

ous injury to the child if the rear-facing child restraint system is installed on the

front passenger seat.

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A forward-facing child restraint system may be allowed to be installed on the

front passenger seat only when it is unavoidable. A child restraint system that

requires a top tether strap should not be used in the front passenger seat since

there is no top tether strap anchor for the front passenger seat. Adjust the seat-

back as upright as possible and always move the seat as far back as possible even

if “AIR BAG OFF” indicator light is illuminated, because the front passenger air-

bag could inflate with considerable speed and force. Otherwise, the child may be

killed or seriously injured.

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Do not use the seat belt extender when installing a child restraint system on the

front or rear passenger seat. If installing a child restraint system with the seat belt

extender connected to the seat belt, the seat belt will not securely hold the child

restraint system, which could cause death or serious injury to the child or other

passengers in the event of a sudden stop, sudden swerve or accident.

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Do not allow the child to lean his/her head or any part of his/her body against the

door or the area of the seat, front pillar or roof side rail from which the side air-

bags or curtain shield airbags deploy even if the child is seated in the child

restraint system. It is dangerous if the side airbags and curtain shield airbags

inflate, and the impact could cause death or serious injury to the child.