2004 Chrysler Town & Country Owner's Manual - Page 52

52 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE Airbags inflate in moderate to high speed impacts. Along with seat belts and pretensioners, front airbags work with the instrument panel knee bolsters to provide improved protection for the driver and front passenger. Side airbags also work with seat belts to improve occupant protection. The seat belts are designed to protect you in many types of collisions. The front airbags deploy in moderate to severe frontal collisions. If your vehicle is equipped, the side airbag on the crash side of the vehicle is triggered in moderate to severe side collisions. In certain types of collisions, both the front and side airbags may be triggered. But even in collisions where the airbags deploy, you need the seat belts to keep you in the right position for the airbags to protect you properly. Here are some simple steps you can take to minimize the risk of harm from a deploying airbag. 1. Children 12 years old and under should always ride buckled up in a rear seat. Infants in rear facing child restraints should NEVER ride in the front seat of a vehicle with a passenger front airbag. An airbag deployment can cause severe injury or death to infants in that position. Children that are not big enough to properly wear the vehicle seat belt (refer to section on Child Restraint) should be secured in the rear seat, in a child restraint or belt-positioning booster seat. Older children who do not use child restraints or belt-positioning booster seats should ride properly buckled up in the rear seat, and in the outboard seat if possible. Never allow children to slide the shoulder belt behind them or under their arm. If a child from 1 to 12 years old must ride in the front passenger seat because the vehicle is crowded, move the seat as far back as possible, and use the proper child restraint. See the section on Child Restraint. You should read the instructions provided with your child restraint to make sure that you are using it properly.