Ford Contour (1999 year). Manual — part 23

Seating and safety restraints

90

Important child restraint
precautions

You are required by law to use
safety restraints for children in the
U.S. and Canada. If small children
ride in your vehicle (generally
children who are 4 years old or
younger and who weigh 18 kg
[40 lb] or less), you must put them
in safety seats made especially for
children. Check your local and
state or provincial laws for specific
requirements regarding the safety
of children in your vehicle.

Never let a passenger hold a
child on his or her lap while

the vehicle is moving. The
passenger cannot protect the child
from injury in a collision.

Always follow the instructions and
warnings that come with any infant
or child restraint you might use.

When possible, place children in
the rear seat of your vehicle.

Accident statistics suggest that
children are safer when properly
restrained in the rear seating
positions than in the front seating
position.

14CSSen 3/25/99 1:59 PM Page 90

Seating and safety restraints

91

Children and safety belts

Children who are too large for child
safety seats (as specified by the
child safety seat manufacturer)
should always wear safety belts.

Follow all the important safety
restraints and air bag precautions
that apply to adult passengers in
your vehicle.

If the shoulder belt portion of a
combination lap and shoulder belt
can be positioned so it does not
cross or rest in front of the child’s
face or neck, the child should wear
the lap and shoulder belt. Moving
the child closer to the center of the
vehicle may help provide a good
shoulder belt fit.

If the shoulder belt cannot be
properly positioned:

• move the child to one of the
seats with a lap belt only (if
equipped),

OR

• if the child is the appropriate
size, restrain the child in a safety
seat.

14CSSen 3/25/99 1:59 PM Page 91

Seating and safety restraints

92

To improve the fit of lap and
shoulder belts on children who
have outgrown child safety seats,
Ford recommends use of a belt-
positioning booster seat that is
labelled as conforming to all federal
motor vehicle safety standards.
Belt-positioning booster seats raise
the child and provide a shorter,
firmer seating posture and better
fit of lap and shoulder belts on the
child. A belt-positioning booster
seat should be used if the shoulder
belt rests in front of the child’s face
or neck, or if the lap belt does not
fit snugly on both thighs, or if the
thighs are too short to let the child
sit all the way back on the seat
cushion when the lower legs hang
over the edge of the seat cushion.
You may wish to discuss the special
needs of your child with your
pediatrician.

14CSSen 3/25/99 1:59 PM Page 92

Seating and safety restraints

93

Built-in child safety seat
(if equipped)

The rear seat may include a built-in
child seat. This child seat conforms
to all federal and local motor
vehicle safety standards. Read the
labels located on the child seat
cushion and shoulder belt for
information on the built-in child
seat.

Use the built-in child seat only if
the child is at least one year old,
weighs 10-27 kg (22-60 lbs) and
the child’s shoulders fit below the
shoulder harness slots on the built-
in child seat.

Children not meeting these
requirements should be secured in
an aftermarket seat. Refer to Child
safety seats in this chapter.

Built-in child seats

All built-in child restraints,
including seats, buckles,

retractors, seat latches, interlocks,
and attaching hardware should be
inspected by a qualified dealer
technician after any collision.

14CSSen 3/25/99 1:59 PM Page 93