Restraints and Safety Systems: Description and Operation

Occupant Restraints

Inertia reel seat belts with electronically controlled pre-tensioners are installed at the front seats. Supplementary occupant restraint is provided for driver and front seat passenger by front airbags, and side air bags installed in the outer wing of each front seat. Standard inertia reel type belts are fitted to all three rear seat positions. The front seat belts are provided with height adjuster units which are attached one to each of the 'B' posts. Where emergency locking retractor/automatic locking retractor seat belts are provided, the belts have two operating modes. The inertia reel mode with emergency locking retractor is for adult passenger use only and operates to allow the occupant some freedom of torso movement under normal travel conditions. The static reel mode which prevents belt payout and must be used when a child seat is installed, is activated by fully extending the belt to engage the ratchet mechanism, then releasing the belt. Operation of the ratchet will then be felt and the belt will become locked in that position. To revert to inertia reel (adult passenger) mode, pay the belt back into the reel to the fully retracted position.