2020 Honda Accord Owners Manual - Child Safety

Child Safety

Protecting Child Passengers

Each year, many children are injured or killed in vehicle crashes because they are either unrestrained or not properly restrained. In fact, vehicle crashes are the number one cause of death of children ages 12 and under.

To reduce the number of child deaths and injuries, every state, Canadian province and territory requires that infants and children be properly restrained when they ride in a vehicle.

Children should sit properly restrained in a rear seat. This is because:

An inflating front or side airbag can injure or kill a child sitting in the front seat.

A child in the front seat is more likely to interfere with the driver’s ability to safely control the vehicle.

Statistics show that children of all sizes and ages are safer when they are properly restrained in a rear seat.

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uuChild SafetyuProtecting Child Passengers

Never hold a child on your lap because it is impossible to protect them in the event of a collision.

Never put a seat belt over yourself and a child. During a crash, the belt would likely press deep into the child and cause serious or fatal injuries.

Never let two children use the same seat belt. Both children could be very seriously injured in a crash.

Any child who is too small to wear a seat belt correctly must be restrained in an approved child seat that is properly secured to the vehicle using either the seat belt or the lower anchors of the LATCH system.

Do not allow children to operate the doors, windows or seat adjustments.

Do not leave children in the vehicle unattended, especially in hot weather when the inside of the vehicle can get hot enough to kill them. They could also activate vehicle controls causing it to move unexpectedly.

uuChild Safety uSafety of Infants and Small Children

Protecting Infants An infant must be properly restrained in a rear-facing, reclining child seat until the infant reaches the seat manufacturer’s weight or height limit for the seat, and the

infant is at least one year old.

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Positioning a rear-facing child seat Child seats must be placed and secured in a rear seating position.

When properly installed, a rear-facing child seat may prevent the driver or a front passenger from moving their seat all the way back, or from locking their seat-back in the desired position. Make sure that there is no contact between the child seat and the seat in front of it.

It can also interfere with proper operation of the passenger’s advanced front airbag system.

2 Airbags P. 45

If this occurs, we recommend that you install the child seat directly behind the front passenger’s seat, move the seat as far forward as needed, and leave it unoccupied. Or, you may wish to get a smaller rear-facing child seat.

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uuChild SafetyuSafety of Infants and Small Children

Protecting Smaller Children If a child is at least one year old and has exceeded the weight and height limitations of a rearward facing child seat, the child should be properly restrained in a firmly

secured forward facing child seat until they exceed the weight and height limitations

for the forward facing child seat.

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Forward-facing child seat placement We strongly recommend placing a forward- facing child seat in a rear seating position.

Placing a forward-facing child seat in the front seat can be hazardous, even with advanced front airbags that automatically turn the passenger’s front airbag off. A rear seat is the safest place for a child.

uuChild Safety uSafety of Infants and Small Children

Selecting a Child Seat Most child seats are LATCH-compatible (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren). Some have a rigid-type connector, while others have a flexible-type connector. Both

are equally easy to use. Some existing and previously owned child seats can only be

installed using the seat belt. Whichever type you choose, follow the child seat manufacturer’s use and care instructions including recommended expiration dates as well as the instructions in this manual. Proper installation is key to maximizing your child’s safety.

In seating positions and vehicles not equipped with LATCH, a LATCH-compatible child seat can be installed using the seat belt and a top tether for added security. This is because all child seats are required to be designed so that they can be secured with a lap belt or the lap part of a lap/shoulder belt. In addition, the child seat manufacturer may advise that a seat belt be used to attach a LATCH-compatible seat once a child reaches a specified weight. Please read the child seat owner’s manual for proper installation instructions.

Important consideration when selecting a child seat

Make sure the child seat meets the following three requirements:

The child seat is the correct type and size for the child.

The child seat is the correct type for the seating position.

The child seat is compliant with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213 or Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213.

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uuChild SafetyuSafety of Infants and Small Children

Installing a LATCH-Compatible Child Seat A LATCH-compatible child seat can be installed in either of the two outer rear seats. A child seat is attached to the lower anchors with either the rigid or flexible type of connectors.

Locate the anchor marks affixed to the base

of the seat cushion.

Pull out the anchor covers under the marks to expose the lower anchors.

Place the child seat on the vehicle seat, then attach the child seat to the lower anchors according to the instructions that came with the child seat.

u When installing the child seat, make sure that the lower anchors are not obstructed by the seat belt or any other object.

uuChild Safety uSafety of Infants and Small Children

Open the tether anchor cover behind the head restraint.

Seat position with adjustable headrest

5. Raise the head restraint to its highest position, then route the tether strap between the head restraint legs, and secure

the tether strap hook to the anchor.

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uuChild SafetyuSafety of Infants and Small Children

Route the tether strap over the top of the head restraint and secure the tether strap hook to the anchor.

5. Route the tether strap over the side of the head restraint and secure the tether strap hook to the anchor.

All models

6. Tighten the tether strap as instructed by the child seat manufacturer.

Make sure the child seat is firmly secured by rocking it forward and back and side to side; little movement should be felt.

Make sure any unused seat belt that a child can reach is buckled, the lockable retractor is activated, and the belt is fully retracted and locked.

uuChild Safety uSafety of Infants and Small Children

Installing a Child Seat with a Lap/Shoulder Seat Belt A child seat can be installed with a lap/shoulder belt in any rear seat or, if absolutely necessary, the front passenger seat.

Place the child seat on the vehicle seat.

Route the seat belt through the child seat according to the seat manufacturer’s instructions, and insert the latch plate into the buckle.

u Insert the latch plate fully until it clicks.

Slowly pull the shoulder part of the belt all the way out until it stops. This activates the lockable retractor.

Let the seat belt retract a few inches and check that the retractor has switched modes by pulling on the webbing. It should not pull out again until it is reset by removing the latch plate from the buckle. u If you are able to pull the shoulder belt

out, the lockable retractor is not activated. Slowly pull the seat belt all the way out, and repeat steps 3 – 4.

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uuChild SafetyuSafety of Infants and Small Children

Grab the shoulder part of the seat belt near the buckle, and pull up to remove any slack from the lap part of the belt.

u When doing this, place your weight on the child seat and push it into the vehicle seat.

Make sure the child seat is firmly secured by rocking it forward and back and side to side; less than one inch of movement should occur near the seat belt.

Make sure any unused seat belt that a child can reach is buckled, the lockable retractor is activated, and the belt is fully retracted and locked.

uuChild Safety uSafety of Infants and Small Children

Adding Security with a Tether

A tether anchorage point is provided behind each rear seating position. If you have a child seat that comes with a tether but can be installed with a seat belt, the tether may be used for additional security.

Locate the appropriate tether anchorage point and lift the cover.

Route the tether strap over the head restraint. Make sure the strap is not twisted.

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uuChild SafetyuSafety of Infants and Small Children

Secure the tether strap hook to the anchor.

Tighten the tether strap as instructed by the child seat manufacturer.

uuChild SafetyuSafety of Larger Children

Protecting Larger Children The following pages give instructions on how to check proper seat belt fit, what kind of booster seat to use if one is needed, and important precautions for a child who

must sit in front.

Checking Seat Belt Fit When a child is too big for a child seat, secure the child in a rear seat using the lap/ shoulder seat belt. Have the child sit upright and all the way back, then answer the

following questions.

Checklist

Do the child’s knees bend comfortably over the edge of the seat?

Does the shoulder belt cross between the child’s neck and arm?

Is the lap part of the seat belt as low as possible, touching the child’s thighs?

Will the child be able to stay seated like this for the whole trip?

If you answer yes to all these questions, the child is ready to wear the lap/shoulder seat belt correctly. If you answer no to any question, the child needs to ride on a booster seat until the seat belt fits properly without a booster seat.

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uuChild SafetyuSafety of Larger Children

Booster Seats

If a lap/shoulder seat belt cannot be used properly, position the child in a booster seat in the rear seat. For the child’s safety, check that the child meets the booster seat manufacturer’s recommendations.

Protecting Larger Children-Final Checks

Your vehicle has a rear seat where children can be properly restrained. If you ever have to carry a group of children, and a child must ride in front:

Make sure you read and fully understand the instructions and safety information in this manual.

Move the front passenger seat as far back as possible.

Have the child sit upright and well back in the seat.

Check that the seat belt is properly positioned so that the child is secure in the seat.

Monitoring child passengers

We strongly recommend that you keep an eye on child passengers. Even older, more mature children sometimes need to be reminded to fasten their seat belts and sit up properly.

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