2004 Mazda RX-8 Owners Manual - MyMazda

J60E_8R65-EA-03C_Edition2.book Page 28 Saturday, April 26, 2003 1:48 PMEssential Safety EquipmentSRS Air BagsChildren should be protected by a child-restraint system. Laws vary on the size a childmust be to use a child-restraint system (page 2-17).Carefully consider which child-restraint system is necessary for your child and follow theinstallation directions in this Owner’s Manual as well as the child-restraint systemmanufacturer’s instructions.Air Bags without Seat Belts:Depending only on the air bags for protection during an accident is dangerous.Alone, air bags may not prevent serious injuries. The appropriate air bags can beexpected to inflate only in collisions with frontal, near frontal or side forces that are atleast moderate. Vehicle occupants should always wear seat belts.Child in the Front Seat:Placing a child, 12 years or under, in the front seat is dangerous. The child could behit by a deploying air bag and be seriously injured or even killed. A sleeping child ismore likely to lean against the door and be hit by the side air bag in a moderate, rightsidecollision. Whenever possible, always secure a child 12 years and under on therear seat with an appropriate child-restraint system for the child’s age and size.Rear-Facing Child-Restraint System:Rear-facing child-restraint systems on the front seat are particularly dangerous.The child-restraint system can be hit by a deploying air bag and moved violentlybackward resulting in serious injury or death to the child. NEVER use a rear-facingchild-restraint system in the front seat with an air bag that could deploy.Deploying air bagWARNINGSeating Position with Front Air Bags:Sitting too close to the air bag storage compartments or placing hands or feet on themis extremely dangerous. Front Air bags inflate with great force and speed. Seriousinjuries could occur if someone is too close. The driver should always hold onto onlythe rim of the steering wheel. The front seat passenger should keep both feet on thefloor. Front seat occupants should adjust their seats as far back as possible andalways sit upright against the seatbacks with seat belts worn properly.2-28Form No. 8R65-EA-03C