Chevrolet Spark Owners Manual: Older Children
Older children who have outgrown booster seats should wear the vehicle safety belts.
The manufacturer instructions that come with the booster seat state the weight and height limitations for that booster. Use a booster seat with a lap-shoulder belt until the child passes the fit test below:
- Sit all the way back on the seat.
Do the knees bend at the seat edge? If yes, continue. If no, return to the booster seat.
- Buckle the lap-shoulder belt.
Does the shoulder belt rest on the shoulder? If yes, continue.
If no, try using the rear safety belt comfort guide, if available.
See “Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides” under Lap-Shoulder Belt on page 3-13. If a comfort guide is not available, or if the shoulder belt still does not rest on the shoulder, then return to the booster seat.
- Does the lap belt fit low and snug on the hips, touching the thighs? If yes, continue. If no, return to the booster seat.
- Can proper safety belt fit be maintained for the length of the trip? If yes, continue. If no, return to the booster seat.
Q: What is the proper way to wear safety belts?
A: An older child should wear a lap-shoulder belt and get the additional restraint a shoulder belt can provide. The shoulder belt should not cross the face or neck. The lap belt should fit snugly below the hips, just touching the top of the thighs.
This applies belt force to the child's pelvic bones in a crash.
It should never be worn over the abdomen, which could cause severe or even fatal internal injuries in a crash.
Also see “Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides” under Lap-Shoulder Belt on page 3-13.
According to accident statistics, children are safer when properly restrained in a rear seating position.
In a crash, children who are not buckled up can strike other people who are buckled up, or can be thrown out of the vehicle. Older children need to use safety belts properly.
Warning
Never allow more than one child to wear the same safety belt. The safety belt cannot properly spread the impact forces. In a crash, they can be crushed together and seriously injured. A safety belt must be used by only one person at a time.
Warning
Never allow a child to wear the safety belt with the shoulder belt behind their back. A child can be seriously injured by not wearing the lap-shoulder belt properly. In a crash, the child would not be restrained by the shoulder belt.
The child could move too far forward increasing the chance of head and neck injury. The child might also slide under the lap belt. The belt force would then be applied right on the abdomen.
That could cause serious or fatal injuries. The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest.
Child Restraints
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Infants and Young Children
Everyone in a vehicle needs protection! This includes infants and all other children.
Neither the distance traveled nor the age and size of the traveler changes the need,
for everyone, to use safe ...
Other materials:
Replacing Airbag System Parts after a Crash
Warning
A crash can damage the airbag systems in the vehicle.
A damaged airbag system may not work properly and may not protect you and your
passenger(s) in a crash, resulting in serious injury or even death. To help make
sure the airbag systems are working properly after a crash, have them in ...
Engine Overheating
The vehicle has an indicator to warn of the engine overheating. See Engine Coolant
Temperature Warning Light on page 5-18.
If the decision is made not to lift the hood when this warning appears, get service
help right away. See Roadside Assistance Program on page 13-5.
If the decision is made ...
Top Tether Anchor
A top tether (3, 4) anchors the top of the child restraint to the vehicle.
A top tether anchor is built into the vehicle. The top tether attachment (2)
on the child restraint connects to the top tether anchor in the vehicle in order
to reduce the forward movement and rotation of the child r ...
