2009 Honda Element Owner's Manual - Page 55

Main Menu Table Of Contents Protecting Larger Children Of course, children vary widely. And while age may be one indicator of when a child can safely ride in front, there are other important factors you should consider. Maturity If you decide that a child can safely ride up front, be sure to: ● Additional Safety Precautions ● To safely ride in front, a child must be able to follow the rules, including sitting properly, and wearing the seat belt properly throughout a ride. Physical Size Carefully read the owner's manual, and make sure you understand all seat belt instructions and all safety information. Move the vehicle seat to the rearmost position. Have the child sit up straight, back against the seat, and feet on or near the floor. Check that the child's seat belt is properly and securely positioned. Supervise the child. Even mature children sometimes need to be reminded to fasten the seat belts or sit properly. Do not let a child wear a seat belt across the neck. This could result in serious neck injuries during a crash. ● Driver and Passenger Safety ● Do not let a child put the shoulder part of a seat belt behind the back or under the arm. This could cause ● Physically, a child must be large enough for the lap/shoulder belt to properly fit (see pages 14 and 49). If the seat belt does not fit properly, with or without the child sitting on a booster seat, the child should not sit in front. very serious injuries during a crash. It also increases the chance that the child will slide under the belt in a crash and be injured. ● ● Two children should never use the same seat belt. If they do, they ● could be very seriously injured in a crash. ● Do not put any accessories on a seat belt. Devices intended to improve a child's comfort or reposition the shoulder part of a seat belt can make the belt less effective and increase the chance of serious injury in a crash. 51 2009 Element