2004 Mazda RX-8 Owners Manual - MyMazda

J60E_8R65-EA-03C_Edition2.book Page 20 Saturday, April 26, 2003 1:48 PMEssential Safety EquipmentChild RestraintInstalling Child-RestraintSystemsAccident statistics reveal that a child issafer in the rear seat. The frontpassenger’s seat is clearly the worstchoice for any child under 12, and withrear-facing child-restraint systems it isclearly unsafe due to air bags.Some child-restraint systems now comewith tethers and therefore must beinstalled on the seats that take tethers tobe effective. In your Mazda, tetheredchild-restraint systems can only beaccommodated in the two positions on therear seat.Some child-restraint systems also employspecially designed LATCH attachments;refer to "LATCH Child-RestraintSystems" (page 2-25).WARNINGTethered Child-Restraint SystemsWork Only on Tether-Equipped RearSeats:Installation of a tether equippedchild-restraint system in the frontpassenger’s seat defeats the safetydesign of the system and will result inan increased chance of serious injuryif the child-restraint system goesforward without benefit of beingtethered.Place tether equipped child-restraintsystems where there are tetheranchors.▼ Rear Seat Child-RestraintSystem InstallationFollow these instructions when using achild-restraint system, unless you areattaching a LATCH-equipped childrestraintsystem to the rear LATCH loweranchors. Refer to "LATCH Child-Restraint Systems" (page 2-25).NOTEFollow the child-restraint systemmanufacturer’s instructions carefully.If you are not sure whether you have aLATCH system or tether, check in thechild-restraint system manufacturer’sinstructions and follow themaccordingly. Depending on the type ofchild-restraint system, it may notemploy seat belts which are inautomatic locking mode.1. Secure the child-restraint system withthe lap portion of the lap/shoulder belt.See the instructions on the childrestraintsystem for belt routinginstructions.2. To get the retractor into the automaticlocking mode, pull the shoulder beltportion of the seat belt until the entirelength of the belt is out of the retractor.2-20Form No. 8R65-EA-03C