1998 Honda Civic Owner's Manual - Page 6

Important Safety Precautions You'll find many safety recommendations throughout this section, and throughout this manual. Following are a few recommendations we consider most important. Always Wear Your Seat Belt A seat belt is your best protection in all types of collisions. Airbags supplement seat belts, but airbags are designed to inflate only in a severe frontal collision. So even with airbags, make sure you and your passengers always wear your seat belts, and wear them properly. (See page 13.) Restrain All Children Children are safest when they are properly restrained in the back seat, not the front seat. A child who is too small for a seat belt must be properly restrained in a child safety seat. (See page 19.) Control Your Speed Be Aware of Airbag Hazards While airbags save lives, they can Excessive speed is a major factor in cause serious or fatal injuries to crash injuries and deaths, Generally, occupants who sit too close to them, the higher the speed the greater the or are not properly restrained. risk, but serious accidents can also Infants, young children, and short occur at lower speeds. Never drive adults are at the greatest risk. Be faster than is safe for current sure to follow all instructions and conditions, regardless of the warnings in this manual. (See page 5.) maximum speed posted. Don't Drink and Drive Alcohol and driving don't mix. Even one drink can reduce your ability to respond to changing conditions. Reaction time gets worse with every additional drink. So don't drink and drive, and don't let your friends drink and drive, either. Keep Your Vehicle in Safe Condition Having a tire blowout or a mechanical failure can be extremely hazardous. To reduce the possibility of such problems, check your tire pressures and condition frequently, and perform all regularly scheduled maintenance. (See page 146.) Driver and Passenger Safety