Kia Optima: Safety Belt Restraint System

WARNING - Safety Belts

To minimize the risk of serious or fatal injury in an accident, the driver and all passengers should use the appropriate safety restraints for their age and size. The presence of airbags does not change the need to be properly restrained by a safety belt or size-appropriate child restraint. In fact, airbags can work properly when passengers are correctly restrained in the vehicle. Be sure you are familiar with the information in this section, including the information on infant and child restraints. Read the safety warnings on the sun visors of your vehicle also.

We strongly recommend that the driver and all passengers be properly restrained at all times by using the safety belts provided with the vehicle. Proper use of the safety belts decreases the risk of severe injury or death in accidents or sudden stops. In most states, and in Canada, the law requires their use.

All seats, except the center rear seat, have lap/shoulder belts. The center rear seat has a lap belt.

Inertial locks in the safety belt retractors allow all of the lap/shoulder safety belts to remain unlocked during normal vehicle operation.

This allows the occupants some freedom of movement and increased comfort while using the safety belts. If a force is applied to the vehicle, such as a strong stop, a sharp turn, or a collision, the safety belt retractors will automatically lock the safety belts.

Since the inertial locks do not require a collision to lock up, you may become aware of the safety belts locking while braking or going around sharp corners.

Whenever possible, use the center rear seat position to install your child restraint system. The center rear seat safety belt does not have an inertial lock, so it is always in a locked condition. If the center seat is unavailable, a child restraint system may be installed in an outboard rear seat position. Never install a rear-facing infant seat in the front passenger position, as an inflating airbag could cause serious or fatal injury to a child in that position.

The rear outboard safety belts use a special autolock feature designed to allow a child restraint to be used in these positions without an added locking clip. They normally lock only under extreme or emergency conditions (emergency lock mode). However they can be adjusted so that they remain fixed and locked when a child restraint system is placed in these positions. (Use this auto-lock mode only to secure a child restraint, never for passengers restrained by the safety belts.) Page 3-47 gives instructions on placing the safety belt in the auto lock mode.

The drivers safety belt can only operate in the emergency lock mode.

Safety belts provide the best restraint when:

• The seatback is upright
• The occupant is sitting upright (not slouched)
• The lap belt is snug across the hips
• The shoulder belt is snug across the chest
• The knees are straight forward

To help you remember to fasten your safety belt, a warning light will come on and a chime will sound. See Safety Belt Warning Light and Chime on page 3-34.

WARNING - After a Collision

• Lap/shoulder belt assemblies may be stretched or damaged when subjected to the stress and forces of a collision.
• A safety belt must be replaced if any part of the “Replace Belt’’ label is visible. You won’t see this label unless your restraint system has been heavily loaded in a collision. This “Replace Belt’’ label, is located on the front belts near the door opening. (see next page)
• The entire restraint system should be inspected following any collision. All belts, retractors, anchors and hardware damaged by a collision should be replaced before the vehicle is operated again.

WARNING - Cargo Area

Passengers should never be allowed to ride in the cargo area of a vehicle. No safety belts are provided for the cargo area. Persons riding in the vehicle without a fastened safety belt are much more likely to suffer serious bodily injury or death during an accident.

WARNING - Twisted Belts

A twisted or jammed safety belt cannot restrain you properly. If you cannot untwist or unjam the safety belt, have a qualified Kia technician repair it immediately. never drive or ride with a twisted or jammed safety belt.

WARNING - Belt Usage

Safety belts must be used correctly to work properly in an accident. Each seating position in your vehicle has a specific safety belt assembly that includes a buckle and tongue designed to be used together.

For greatest effectiveness, follow these guidelines in using safety belts:

• Use the shoulder portion of the safety belt on the outside shoulder only. Never wear the shoulder portion under the arm.
• Never swing the safety belt around your neck to fit over the inside shoulder.
• Never wear the shoulder portion of the safety belt across the neck or face.
• Wear the lap portion as low as possible. Be sure that the lap belt fits snugly around the hips. never wear a lap belt or lap portion of a lap/shoulder belt over your waist; it should always go over the stronger area of your hips.
• Never use a single safety belt for more than one person.
• The front seatbacks should always remain in a comfortable, upright position when the vehicle is moving.

WARNING - Safety Belt Care

• A damaged belt may not give you the protection you need in an accident.
• Inspect our safety belts periodically for excessive wear or damage. Pull out each belt fully and look for fraying, cuts, burns or other damage. Pull the safety belt out and let it retract a number of times. Make sure that the lap/shoulder belts return smoothly and easily into the retractor.
• Check the latches to make sure they latch and release without interference or delay.
• Never close the doors on any part of the lap or shoulder belt.
• Any belt not in good condition or in good working order should be promptly replaced.

CAUTION

Never close the doors on any part of the lap or shoulder belt. It can damage the safety belt or buckle which could increase the risk of injury in case of an accident.

• Safety Belt Warning Light and Chime