1996 Ford Escort Owner's Manual - Page 13

RWARNING Children should always ride with the seatback in the fully upright position. When the seatback is not fully upright, there is a greater risk that the child will slide under the safety belt and be seriously injured in a collision. RWARNING Never let a passenger hold a child on his or her lap while the vehicle is moving. The passenger cannot protect the child from injury in a collision. RWARNING Lock the doors of your vehicle before driving to lessen the risk of the door coming open in a collision. Motorized Shoulder Belt Passive Restraint System (Not available on Canadian vehicles) The front seat shoulder belts automatically adjust and together with the manual lap belt, help to provide added restraint in the event of a collision. While you drive, the shoulder belt adjusts to your movement. However, if you brake hard, turn hard, or if your car receives an impact of 5 mph (8 km/h) or more, the shoulder belt locks and helps reduce your forward movement. 11