2008 Mazda RX-8 Owner's Manual - Page 35

Essential Safety Equipment Child Restraint Do not allow a child to lean over or against the side window of a vehicle with side and curtain air bags: It is dangerous to allow anyone to lean over or against the side window, the area of the front passenger seat, the front and rear window pillars and the roof edge along both sides from which the side and curtain air bags deploy, even if a child-restraint system is used. If the vehicle is equipped with side and curtain air bags, the impact of inflation could cause serious injury or death to the child. Furthermore, leaning over or against the front door could block the side and curtain air bags and eliminate the advantages of supplemental protection. With the front air bag and the additional side air bag that comes out of the front seat, the rear seat is always a better location for children. Do not allow a child to lean over or against the side window, even if the child is seated in a child-restraint system. Never use one seat belt on more than one person at a time: Using one seat belt for more than one person at a time is dangerous. A seat belt used in this way cannot spread the impact forces properly and the two passengers could be crushed together and seriously injured or even killed. Never use one belt for more than one person at a time and always operate the vehicle with each occupant properly restrained. CAUTION A seat belt or child-restraint system can become very hot in a closed vehicle during warm weather. To avoid burning yourself or a child, check them before you or your child touches them. NOTE Your Mazda is equipped with LATCH lower anchors for attachment of specially designed LATCH child-restraint systems in the rear seat. When using these anchors to secure a child-restraint system, refer to "LATCH Child-Restraint Systems" (page 2-30). 2-23