Auto Safety Features : Tips for Proper Use

While airbags clearly contribute to your safety behind the wheel, you should take a moment to understand how to optimize their effectiveness:

• Research has shown that sitting too close to an air bag can cause serious injuries. The NHTSA recommends that you place yourself 10 inches from your driver air bag (measure from the center of the steering wheel to your breastbone).
• If you currently sit less than 10 inches away, you can adjust your driving position as follows:
  
  • Move your seat to the rear as far as possible while still reaching the pedals comfortably.
  • Slightly recline the back of your seat. Most drivers can achieve the 10-inch distance even with the driver seat all the way forward by slightly reclining the back of the seat. If reclining the seat makes it hard to see the road, you can raise yourself up by using your car's seat-raising system or a firm, non-slippery cushion.
  • Point the air bag toward your chest, instead of your head and neck, by tilting your steering wheel downward.
• The rules are different for children. An air bag can seriously injure, or even kill, an unbuckled child who is sitting too close or is thrown toward the dash during emergency braking. The following safety points are important:
  
  • Children 12 and under should ride in the back seat. Children 8 and under should be buckled up in a properly installed, age-appropriate rear child safety seat (see guidelines below).
  • Infants in rear-facing child seats should never ride in the front seat of a car equipped with a passenger-side air bag.
  • If a child over one year old must ride in the front seat with a passenger-side air bag, he or she should be in a front-facing child safety seat, a booster seat or a properly fitting lap/shoulder belt, and the seat should be moved as far back as possible.

Child Safety Seats
When correctly chosen, installed and used, child safety seats -- made of strong, impact-resistant plastic -- can prevent injury and save lives. However, four out of five car seats are installed incorrectly.

When choosing your child's safety seat, consider their age and weight. (Consult the NHTSA website for more information.)