2004 Saab 9-5 Owner's Manual - Page 18

18 Safety WARNING Proper positioning of the safety belt is extremely important. An out of position safety belt can result in the wearer sliding underneath the belt in a crash (submarining) and injury can result from the lap portion cutting into the abdomen. • Check to ensure that the belt is not twisted or rubbing against any sharp edges. • There should not be any slack in the belt. Pull the belt tight - particularly important when thick outer clothing is worn. • Refrain from tilting the backrest more than necessary, as the safety belt provides better protection when the seat is in the more upright position. • Only one person per safety belt! IB410 Safety belt pretensioners The belts of the front seats are fitted with automatic pretensioners and force limiters. These are activated in the event of a severe frontal or rear-end crash and a side-on collision, provided that the safety belts are being worn. The pretensioners serve to reduce the forward movement of the body by tensioning the belt. The force limiters reduce belt loads on the body by "loosening" the safety belt to absorb the body's kinetic energy as gradually as possible. The safety belt pretensioners are not activated by vehicle rollover. Correctly positioned safety belt WARNING If the car is involved in a crash, the safety belts, belt pretensioners and other components must be inspected by an authorized Saab dealer and replaced as necessary. Never make any alterations or repairs to the safety belt yourself. Visit an authorized Saab dealer for any necessary repairs. Correct position for safety belt • The lap portion of the belt should be pulled as tightly as comfortable and as low as possible across the hips, so that it is just touching the top of the thighs. The shoulder belt should be well in on the shoulder but not touching the neck. WARNING If two people share a belt, they risk injury by being crushed together in the event of a crash. • For most of the time a safety belt is worn, the retractor will allow the wearer freedom of movement. The retractor locks up automatically if the belt is jerked or withdrawn sharply, the car tilts, the brakes are applied hard or a crash occurs.