1998 Toyota Land Cruiser Owners Manual - Page 59

Child restraint- -Child restraint precautions Toyota strongly urges the use of child restraint systems for children small enough to use them. The laws of all fifty states in the U.S.A. now require the use of a child restraint system. Your vehicle conforms to SAEJ1819. If a child is too large for a child restraint system, the child should sit in the rear seat and must be restrained using the vehicle's seat belt. See "Seat belts" for details. -Child restraint system D Toyota strongly urges use of a proper child restraint system which conforms to the size of the child, and is put on the rear seat. According to accident statistics, the child is safer when properly restrained in the rear seat than in the front seat. D Never put a rear- facing child restraint system on the front seat. In the event of an accident, the force of the rapid inflation of the airbag can cause death or serious injury if a rear- facing child restraint system is put on the front seat. D Unless it is unavoidable, do not put a child restraint system on the front seat. D A forward- facing child restraint system should be allowed to put on the front seat only when it is unavoidable. Always move the seat as far back as possible, because the force of a deploying airbag could cause death or serious injury to the child. D Make sure that you have complied with all installation instructions provided by the child restraint manufacturer and that the system is properly secured. A child restraint system for a small child or baby must itself be properly restrained on the seat with either the lap belt or the lap portion of the lap/ shoulder belt. You must carefully consult the manufacturer's instructions which accompany your child restraint system. To provide proper restraint, use a child restraint system following the manufacturer's instructions about the appropriate age and size of the child for the child restraint system. Install the child restraint system correctly following the instructions provided by its manufacturer. General directions are also provided under the following illustrations. The child restraint system should be 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. CAUTION D For effective protection in automobile accidents and sudden stops, children 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 windshield, or between you and the vehicle's interior. 59