2006 Subaru Forester Owner's Manual - Page 65

1-36 Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags *SRS airbag (Supplemental Restraint System airbag) *SRS: This stands for supplemental restraint system. This name is used because the airbag system supplements the vehicle's seatbelts. Your vehicle is equipped with a crash sensing and diagnostic module, which will record the use of the seatbelt(s) by the driver and/or front passenger when any of the SRS frontal and side airbags deploys. The system also controls front seatbelt pretensioners. For operation instructions and precautions concerning the seatbelt pretensioner, see the "Front seatbelt pretensioners" section in this chapter. Do not sit or lean unnecessarily close to the SRS airbag. Because the SRS airbag deploys with considerable speed - faster than the blink of an eye - and force to protect in high speed collisions, the force of an airbag can injure an occupant whose body is too close to SRS airbag. It is also important to wear your seatbelt to help avoid injuries that can result when the SRS airbag contacts an occupant not in proper position such as one thrown forward during pre-accident braking. Even when properly positioned, there remains a possibility that an occupant may suffer minor injury such as abrasions and bruises to the face or arms because of the SRS airbag deployment force. Vehicle with driver's and front passenger's SRS airbags and lap/shoulder restraints Your vehicle is equipped with a supplemental restraint system in addition to a lap/shoulder belt at each front seating position. The supplemental restraint system (SRS) consists of two airbag (driver's and front passenger's frontal airbags) or four airbags (driver's and front passenger's frontal airbags and driver's and front passenger's side airbags). These SRS airbags are designed only as a supplement to the primary protection provided by the seatbelt. To obtain maximum protection in the event of an accident, the driver and all passengers in the vehicle should always wear seatbelts when the vehicle is moving. The SRS airbag is designed only as a supplement to the primary protection provided by the seatbelt. It does not do away with the need to fasten seatbelts. In combination with the seatbelts, it offers the best combined protection in case of a serious accident. Not wearing a seatbelt increases the chance of severe injury or death in a crash even when the vehicle has the SRS airbag. For instructions and precautions concerning the seatbelt system, see the "Seatbelts" section in this chapter.