Child-Restraint Precautions
Child-Restraint System Installation
Installing Child-Restraint Systems

Child-Restraint Precautions

Mazda strongly urges the use of child-restraint systems for children small enough to use them.

 

You are required by law to use a child-restraint system for children in the U.S. and Canada.

Check your local and state or provincial laws for specific requirements regarding the safety of children riding in your vehicle.

 

Whatever child-restraint system you consider, please pick the appropriate one for the age and size of the child, obey the law and follow the instructions that come with the individual child-restraint system.

 

A child who has outgrown child-restraint systems should use seat belts, both lap and shoulder. If the shoulder belt crosses the neck or face, move the child closer to the center of the vehicle.

 

A rear-facing child-restraint system should NEVER be used on the passenger seat with the air bag system activated.

 

(With Passenger Occupant Classification System)

To reduce the chance of injuries caused by deployment of the passenger air bag, the passenger occupant classification sensor work as a part of the supplemental restraint system. This system deactivates the passenger front and side air bags and also the passenger seat belt pretensioner system when the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates.

 

When an infant or small child sits on the passenger seat, the system shuts off the passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner system, so make sure the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates.

 

For more details, refer to "Passenger occupant classification sensor" (Search).

 

 


Use the correct size child-restraint system:

For effective protection in vehicle accidents and sudden stops, a child must be properly restrained using a seat belt or child-restraint system depending on age and size. If not, the child could be seriously injured or even killed in an accident.

Follow the manufacturer's instructions and always keep the child-restraint system buckled down:

An unsecured child-restraint system is dangerous. In a sudden stop or a collision it could move causing serious injury or death to the child or other occupants. Make sure any child-restraint system is properly secured in place according to the child-restraint system manufacturer's instructions. When not in use, remove it from the vehicle or fasten it with a seat belt.

Always secure a child in a proper child-restraint system:

Holding a child in your arms while the vehicle is moving is extremely dangerous. No matter how strong the person may be, he or she cannot hold onto a child in a sudden stop or collision and it could result in serious injury or death to the child or other occupants. Even in a moderate accident, the child may be exposed to air bag forces that could result in serious injury or death to the child, or the child may be slammed into an adult, causing injury to both child and adult.

Always make sure the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light is illuminated when using a child-restraint system:

Seating a child in a child-restraint system that is installed on the passenger seat with the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light not illuminated is extremely dangerous. In an accident, an air bag could inflate and cause serious injuries or even death to the child seated in the child-restraint system. Always make sure the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light is illuminated.

Refer to Passenger Occupant Classification System (Search).

(Except Mexico)

Vehicles with a passenger air bag have the following warning label. The warning label is displayed in compliance with regulations.

(Mexico)

NEVER use a rearward facing child restraint on a seat protected by an ACTIVE AIRBAG in front of it, DEATH or SERIOUS INJURY to the CHILD can occur.

Vehicles with a passenger air bag have the following warning label. The warning label reminds you not to put a rear-facing child-restraint system on the passenger seat at any time.

 

Before installing child-restraint system on the passenger seat, move the passenger seat as far back as possible:

In a collision, the force of a deploying air bag could cause serious injury or death to the child.

Seating a child in a child-restraint system on the passenger seat is dangerous under certain conditions (With Passenger Occupant Classification System):

Your vehicle is equipped with passenger occupant classification sensor. Even with the passenger occupant classification sensor, if you must use the passenger seat to seat a child, using a child-restraint system on the passenger seat under the following conditions increases the danger of the passenger air bag deploying and could result in serious injury or death to the child.

  • The passenger air bag deactivation indicator light does not illuminate when seating a child in the child-restraint system.

  • Luggage or other items are placed on the seat with the child in the child-restraint system.

  • The seat is washed.

  • Liquids are spilled on the seat.

  • The passenger seat is moved backward, pushing into luggage or other items placed behind it.

  • Luggage or other items are placed between the passenger seat and driver seat.

  • An electric device is put on the passenger's seat.

  • An additional electrical device, such as a seat warmer is installed to the surface of the passenger seat.

Do not allow a child or anyone to lean over or against the side window of a vehicle with side air bags:

It is dangerous to allow anyone to lean over or against the side window, the area of the passenger seat from which the side air bags deploy, even if a child-restraint system is used. The impact of inflation from a side air bag could cause serious injury or death to an out of position child. Furthermore, leaning over or against the door could block the side air bags and eliminate the advantages of supplemental protection. Because the side air bag deploys from the outboard shoulder of the seat, do not allow the child to lean over or against the side window, even if the child is seated in a child-restraint system.

Never use one seat belt on more than one person at a time:

Using one seat belt for more than one person at a time is dangerous. A seat belt used in this way cannot spread the impact forces properly and the two passengers could be crushed together and seriously injured or even killed. Never use one belt for more than one person at a time and always operate the vehicle with each occupant properly restrained.

Always use a child-restraint system designed for use without a tether or the LATCH lower anchor:

Using a child-restraint system that requires a tether or the LATCH lower anchor is dangerous. Your Mazda does not have a child-restraint tether or the LATCH lower anchor. The child-restraint system cannot be properly secured. In a collision, it could move and injure other occupants as well as result in serious injuries or death to the child.

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A seat belt or child-restraint system can become very hot in a closed vehicle during warm weather. To avoid burning yourself or a child, check them before you or your child touches them.

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