2002 Toyota Prius Owners Manual - Page 70

Child restraint- -Child restraint precautions Toyota strongly urges the use of child restraint systems for children small enough to use them. The laws of all 50 states in the U.S.A. and Canada now require the use of a child restraint system. Your vehicle conforms to SAEJ1819. If a child is too large for a child restraint system, the child should sit in the rear seat and must be restrained using the vehicle's seat belt. See "Seat belts-" on page 40 for details. D Toyota strongly urges use of a proper child restraint system which conforms to the size of the child, and is put on the rear seat. According to accident statistics, the child is safer when properly restrained in the rear seat than in the front seat. DA D Never put a rear-facing child restraint system on the front seat. In the event of an accident, the force of the rapid inflation of the airbag can cause death or serious injury if a rear-facing child restraint system is put on the front seat. forward-facing child restraint system should be allowed to put on the front seat only when it is unavoidable. Always move the seat as far back as possible, because the force of the deploying airbag could cause death or serious injury to the child. not allow the child to lean against the front door or around the front door even if the child is seated in the child restraint system. It is dangerous if the side airbag inflates, and the impact could cause death or serious injury to the child. D On vehicles with side airbags, do CAUTION D For effective protection in automobile accidents and sudden stops, a child must be properly restrained, using a seat belt or child restraint system depending on the age and size of the child. Holding a child in your arms is not a substitute for a child restraint system. In an accident, the child can be crushed against the windshield, or between you and the vehicle's interior. D Unless it is unavoidable, do not put a child restraint front seat. system on the D Make sure you have complied with all installation instructions provided by the child restraint manufacturer and that the system is properly secured. 61