When riding in a vehicle, you travel as fast as the vehicle does. If the vehicle stops suddenly, you keep going until something stops you. It could be the windshield, the instrument panel, or the seat belts!
When you wear a seat belt, you and the vehicle slow down together. There is more time to stop because you stop over a longer distance and, when worn properly, your strongest bones take the forces from the seat belts. That is why wearing seat belts makes such good sense.
Q: Will I be trapped in the vehicle after a crash if I am wearing a seat belt?
A: You could be — whether you are wearing a seat belt or not. Your chance of being conscious during and after a crash, so you can unbuckle and get out, is much greater if you are belted.
Q: If my vehicle has airbags, why should I have to wear seat belts?
A: Airbags are supplemental systems only. They work with seat belts — not instead of them. Whether or not an airbag is provided, all occupants still have to buckle up to get the most protection. Also, in nearly all states and Canadian provinces, the law requires wearing seat belts.
If equipped, this feature prevents the vehicle from shifting out of P (Park) when the driver seat belt is not buckled. The Buckle to Drive feature must be turned ON in the infotainment system to work. See Vehicle Personalization and Teen Driver if equipped.
If the engine is running, the driver seat belt is not buckled, and the brake pedal is pressed with the vehicle in P (Park), a message displays in the Driver Information Center (DIC). Buckle the driver seat belt to shift out of P (Park). Shifting from P (Park) will be prevented once for each ignition cycle.
On some models, Buckle to Drive may also prevent shifting out of P (Park) if a front passenger is unbuckled under similar conditions. A message displays in the DIC. This feature may not allow the vehicle to shift if an object is on the front passenger seat. Remove the object or buckle the seat belt to shift.
If the driver or front passenger remains unbuckled, the DIC message will turn off after several seconds, and the vehicle can be shifted out of P (Park).
Follow these rules for everyone's protection. There are additional things to know about seat belts and children, including smaller children and infants. Review rules for children in addition to the following rules.
All seating positions in the vehicle have a lap-shoulder belt.
Adjust the height so the shoulder portion of the belt is on the shoulder, not falling off, and not contacting the neck. Push the release button to move the adjuster. After setting, test it is locked.
The system may tighten the front seat belts each time they are buckled while in P or D with the engine running or in Auto Stop. It also activates during emergency braking or sudden maneuvers and releases when driving conditions normalize. It will not activate if Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control is not functioning. If a problem oc
