2007 BMW 7 Series Owner's Manual - Page 45

Adjusting Sitting safely The ideal sitting position can make a vital contribution to relaxed driving that is as fatigue-free as possible. Together with the safety belts and airbags, the sitting position plays an important role in the event of an accident. To ensure that the safety systems operate with optimized efficiency, we strongly urge you to follow the instructions contained in the section below. For additional information on transporting children safely, refer to page 54. Adjust the head restraint so that its center is approx. at ear level. Otherwise, there is increased danger of injury in the event of an accident.< Adjusting the head restraint, refer to page 46. Safety belt Fasten safety belts on all occupied seats before every trip. Although airbags enhance safety by providing added protection, they are not a substitute for safety belts. Your vehicle has five seats that are each equipped with a safety belt. Never allow more than one person to wear a single safety belt. Never allow infants or small children to ride on a passenger's lap. Make sure that the belt lies low around the hips in the lap area and does not press on the abdomen. The safety belt must not lie across the neck, rub on sharp edges, be routed over solid or breakable objects or be pinched. Wear the safety belt without twisting, snugly across the lap and shoulders, as close to the body as possible. Otherwise, the belt can slip over the hips in the lap area in a frontal impact and injure the abdomen. Avoid wearing clothing that prevents the belt from fitting properly and pull the shoulder belt periodically to readjust the tension across your lap in order to avoid a reduction in the retention effect of the safety belt.< For instructions on operating safety belts, refer to page 48. Airbags Always maintain an adequate distance between yourself and the airbags. Always hold the steering wheel by its rim with hands at the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions to minimize the risk of injuries to your hands and arms in the event of airbag deployment. No one and nothing is to come between the airbags and the seat occupant. Do not use the cover of the front airbag on the front passenger side as a storage area. Make sure that the front passenger is sitting correctly and does not rest feet or legs on the dashboard; otherwise, leg injuries can occur if the front airbag is triggered. Make sure that occupants do not rest their head against the side or head airbag; otherwise, injuries can occur if the airbags are triggered.< Even if you follow all of the instructions, injuries resulting from contact with airbags cannot be entirely ruled out, depending on the circumstances. The ignition and inflation noise may provoke a mild - usually temporary - hearing loss in extremely sensitive individuals. For airbag locations and additional information on airbags, refer to page 95. Seats Note before adjusting Never attempt to adjust your seat while operating the vehicle. The seat could respond with unexpected movement and the ensuing loss of vehicle control could lead to an accident. 43 Mobility Reference Head restraint A correctly adjusted head restraint reduces the risk of injury to cervical vertebrae in the event of an accident. Online Edition for Part no. 01 41 0 013 316 - © 02/07 BMW AG Communications Entertainment Navigation Driving tips Controls At a glance