Seat Belt Use in the 2023 Cadillac CT5 | A Step-by-Step User Manual
The 2023 Cadillac CT5 places a high priority on safety, and its cutting-edge features go above and beyond performance and style to ensure the comfort and safety of its occupants. The clever and proactive “Buckle to Drive” system, which ensures seat belt usage, is at the heart of this commitment. Let’s examine how the seat belt instructions on the Cadillac CT5 seamlessly combine comfort and safety. The “Buckle to Drive” method is easy to use and is meant to be convenient. The driver is encouraged to buckle up when they get inside the car. When the seat belt is correctly fastened, the system recognizes the action and authorizes the ignition to turn on. This smooth transition fosters a habitual association between getting into the car and automatically fastening your seat belt.
2023 Cadillac CT5 Specs, Price, Features, Mileage and Review
Seat Belts
This section describes how to use seat belts properly, and some things not to do.
Warning
Do not let anyone ride where a seat belt cannot be worn properly. In a crash, if you or your passenger(s) are not wearing seat belts, injuries can be much worse than if you are wearing seat belts.
You can be seriously injured or killed by hitting things inside the vehicle harder or by being ejected from the vehicle. In addition, anyone who is not buckled up can strike other passengers in the vehicle. It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area, inside or outside of a vehicle.
In a collision, passengers riding in these areas are more likely to be seriously injured or killed. Do not allow passengers to ride in any area of the vehicle that is not equipped with seats and seat belts. Always wear a seat belt, and check that all passenger(s) are restrained properly too.
This vehicle has indicators as a reminder to buckle the seat belts. See Seat Belt Reminders 0 98.
Seat Belt Instructions
How Seat Belts Work
When riding in a vehicle, you travel as fast as the vehicle does. If the vehicle stops suddenly, you keep going until something stops you. It could be the windshield, the instrument panel, or the seat belts! When you wear a seat belt, you and the vehicle slow down together. There is more time to stop because you stop over a longer distance and, when worn properly, your strongest bones take the forces from the seat belts. That is why wearing seat belts makes such good sense.
2023 Cadillac CT5 Seat Belt Owners Manual
Questions and Answers About Seat Belts
Q: Will I be trapped in the vehicle after a crash if I am wearing a seat belt?
A: You could be — whether you are wearing a seat belt or not. Your chance of being conscious during and after a crash, so you can unbuckle and get out, is much greater if you are belted.
Q: If my vehicle has airbags, why should I have to wear seat belts?
A: Airbags are supplemental systems only.
They work with seat belts — not instead of them. Whether or not an airbag is provided, all occupants still have to buckle up to get the most protection.
Also, in nearly all states and all Canadian provinces, the law requires wearing seat belts.
Buckle To Drive
If equipped, this feature delays the vehicle from shifting out of P (Park) when the driver seat belt is not buckled. The Buckle to Drive feature must be turned ON in the infotainment system to work. To turn the Buckle to Drive feature on or off, select Settings > Vehicle > Buckle to Drive. See Teen Driver 0 163, if equipped.
If the vehicle is on and the brake pedal is pressed with the vehicle in P (Park) but the driver seat belt is not buckled, a message displays in the Driver Information Center (DIC) and the vehicle will be delayed from shifting out of P (Park). Buckle the driver seat belt to clear the message and shift out of P (Park). Shifting from P (Park) will be delayed once each time the vehicle is started.
For some fleet vehicles, the feature is always ON and cannot be turned OFF in the infotainment system. The vehicle will be delayed from shifting from P (Park) each time the driver attempts to do so while the driver seat belt is not buckled. Turning the vehicle off and then on will not change this condition.
On some models, Buckle to Drive may also delay shifting out of P (Park) if a front passenger seat belt is unbuckled. A message is displayed in the DIC. Buckle the front passenger seat belt to shift out of P (Park).
This feature may delay the vehicle from shifting out of P (Park) if an object, such as a briefcase, handbag, grocery bag, laptop, or another electronic device, is on the front passenger seat. If this happens, remove the object from the seat or buckle the seat belt to shift out of P (Park).
If the driver, or on some vehicles, the present front passenger remains unbuckled, the DIC message will turn off after several seconds and the vehicle can be shifted out of P (Park). See “Seat Belts” and “Child Restraints” in the Index for information about the importance of proper restraint use.
If the driver seat belt or the front passenger seat belt is unbuckled when driving, the seat belt reminder chime and light(s) will come on. See Seat Belt Reminders 0 90. This feature may not function properly if the airbag readiness light is on. See Airbag Readiness Light 98.
Seat Belt Usage
How to Wear Seat Belts Properly Follow these rules for everyone’s protection.
Follow these rules for everyone’s protection.
There are additional things to know about seat belts and children, including smaller children and infants. If a child will be riding in the vehicle, see Older Children 0 64 or Infants and Young Children 0 66. Review and follow the rules for children in addition to the following rules.
All occupants need to buckle up. Statistics show that unbelted people are hurt more often in crashes than those who are wearing seat belts.
There are important things to know about wearing a seat belt properly.
- Sit up straight and always keep your feet on the floor in front of you (if possible).
- Wear the lap part of the belt low and snug on the hips, just touching the thighs. In a crash, this applies force to the strong pelvic bones and you would be less likely to slide under the lap belt.
If you slid under it, the belt would apply force on your abdomen. This could cause serious or even fatal injuries.
- Wear the shoulder belt over the shoulder and across the chest. These parts of the body are best able to take belt restraining forces. The shoulder belt locks if there is a sudden stop or crash.
Warning
You can be seriously injured, or even killed, by not wearing your seat belt properly.
Never allow the lap or shoulder belt to become loose or twisted.
Never wear the shoulder belt under both arms or behind your back.
Always use the correct buckle for your seating position
Never route the lap or shoulder belt over an armrest.
Warning
The seat belt can be pinched if it is routed under plastic trim on the seat, such as trim around the rear seatback folding handle or side airbag. In a crash, pinched seat belts might not provide adequate protection. Never allow seat belts to be routed under plastic trim pieces.
Warning
You can be seriously injured or killed if the shoulder belt is worn behind your back, under your legs, or wrapped around your neck. The shoulder belt can tighten but cannot be loosened if it is locked. The shoulder belt locks when it is pulled out of the retractor. It unlocks when the shoulder belt is allowed to go back into the retractor, but it cannot do this if it is wrapped around you. You may have to cut the seat belt if it is locked and tightened around you.
CT5 Safety Features
Lap-Shoulder Belt
All seating positions in the vehicle have a lap-shoulder belt. If you are using a rear seating position with a detachable seat belt and the seat belt is not attached, see Rear Seats 0 42 for instructions on reconnecting the seat belt to the mini-buckle.
2023 Cadillac CT5 Seat Belt User Manual
Passenger Safety Instructions
The following instructions explain how to wear a lap-shoulder belt properly.
- If the seat has a seat belt guide, the seat belt must be routed through the guide to properly position the shoulder belt.
- If the seat belt is not routed through the guide, slide the edge of the belt webbing through the opening on the guide. Be sure the belt is not twisted
Adjust the seat, if the seat is adjustable, so you can sit up straight. To see how, see “Seats” in the Index.
- Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you. Do not let it get twisted.
The lap-shoulder belt may lock if you pull the belt across you very quickly. If this happens, let the belt go back slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt across you more slowly.
If the shoulder portion of a passenger belt is pulled out all the way, the child restraint locking feature may be engaged. See Child Restraint Systems 0 68. If this occurs, let the belt go back all the way and start again. If the locking feature stays engaged after letting the belt go back to the stowed position on the seat, move the seat rearward or recline the seat until the shoulder belt retractor lock releases. Engaging the child restraint locking feature in the front outboard seating position may affect the passenger sensing system. See Passenger Sensing System 0 56.
If the shoulder portion of the driver belt is pulled out all the way, the shoulder belt retractor lock feature may be engaged. If this happens, let the belt go back all the way and start again. If the locking feature stays engaged after letting the belt go back to the stowed position on the seat, move the seat rearward or recline the seat until the shoulder belt retractor lock releases.
- Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.
Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure. If the belt is not long enough, see Seat Belt Extender 0 53. Position the release button on the buckle so that the seat belt can be quickly unbuckled if necessary. - If equipped with a shoulder belt height adjuster, move it to the height that is right for you. See “Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster” later in this section for instructions on use and important safety information.
- To make the lap part tight, pull up on the shoulder belt.
It may be necessary to pull the webbing firmly, through the adjustable stop, or move the adjustable stop along the webbing toward the outboard floor anchor, to fully tighten the lap belt across the lap.
To unlatch the belt, push the button on the buckle. The belt should return to its stowed position.
Always stow the seat belt slowly. If the seat belt webbing returns quickly to the stowed position, the retractor may lock and cannot be pulled out. If this happens, pull the seat belt straight out firmly to unlock the webbing, and then release it. If the webbing is still locked in the retractor, see your dealer.
Before a door is closed, be sure the seat belt is out of the way. If a door is slammed against a seat belt, damage can occur to both the seat belt and the vehicle. The vehicle has a shoulder belt height adjuster for the driver and front outboard passenger seating positions.
Automatic Seat Belt Tightening System
The vehicle may have an Automatic Seat Belt Tightening System. Adjust the height so the shoulder portion of the belt is on the shoulder and not falling off of it. The belt should be close to, but not contacting the neck. Improper shoulder belt height adjustment could reduce the effectiveness of the seat belt in a crash. See How to Wear Seat Belts Properly 0 45. The system also activates during emergency braking and/or sudden driving manoeuvres and releases when driving conditions return to normal.
The system will not activate if the Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control system is not functioning properly. See Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control 0 226. If there is a problem with the Automatic Seat Belt Tightening System, a message is displayed on the Driver Information Center (DIC). If a system unavailable message displays repeatedly or if a service message displays, see your dealer. Other seat belt functions are not affected by the Automatic Seat Belt Tightening System
Seat Belt Pretensioners
This vehicle has seat belt pretensioners for the front outboard occupants. Although the seat belt pretensioners cannot be seen, they are part of the seat belt assembly. They can help tighten the seat belts during the early stages of a moderate to severe frontal, near frontal, or rear crash if the threshold conditions for pretensioner activation are met. Seat belt pretensioners can also help tighten the seat belts in a side crash or a rollover event.
Pretensioners work only once. If the pretensioners activate in a crash, the pretensioners and probably other parts of the vehicle’s seat belt system will need to be replaced. See Replacing Seat Belt System Parts after a Crash51.
Do not sit on the outboard seat belt while entering or exiting the vehicle or at any time while sitting in the seat. Sitting on the seat belt can damage the webbing and hardware.
2023 Cadillac CT5 Seat Belt User Guide
Rear Seat Belt Comfort Guides
Rear seat belt comfort guides may provide added seat belt comfort for older children who have outgrown booster seats and for some adults. When installed on a shoulder belt, the comfort guide positions the shoulder belt away from the neck and head. Comfort guides are available through your dealer for the rear outboard seating positions. Instructions are included with the guides.
Seat Belt Use During Pregnancy
Seat belts work for everyone, including pregnant women. Like all occupants, they are more likely to be seriously injured if they do not wear seat belts.
A pregnant woman should wear a lap-shoulder belt, and the lap portion should be worn as low as possible, below the rounding, throughout the pregnancy.
The best way to protect the fetus is to protect the mother. When a seat belt is worn properly, it is more likely that the fetus will not be hurt in a crash. For pregnant women, as for anyone, the key to making seat belts effective is wearing them properly.
Seat Belt Extender
If the vehicle’s seat belt is fastened around you, you should use it. But if a seat belt is not long enough, your dealer will order you an extender. Only a GM dealer-issued extender should be used. When you go in to order it, take the heaviest coat you will wear, so the extender will be long enough for you. To help avoid personal injury, do not let someone else use it, and use it only for the seat it is made to fit. The extender has been designed for adults. Never use it for securing child restraints. For more information on the proper use and fit of the seat belt extenders see the instruction sheet that comes with the extender.
Safety System Check
Periodically check the seat belt reminder, seat belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors, shoulder belt height adjusters (if equipped), and seat belt anchorages to make sure they are all in working order. Look for any other loose or damaged seat belt system parts that might keep a seat belt system from performing properly. See your dealer to have it repaired. Torn, frayed, or twisted seat belts may not protect you in a crash. Torn or frayed seat belts can rip apart under impact forces. If a belt is torn or frayed, have it replaced immediately. If a belt is twisted, it may be possible to untwist it by fixing it. Make sure the seat belt reminder light is working. See Seat Belt Reminders 0 98. Keep seat belts clean and dry. See Seat Belt Care 051.
Seat Belt Care
Keep belts clean and dry.
Seat belts should be properly cared for and maintained. Seat belt hardware should be kept dry and free of dust or debris. As necessary, exterior hard surfaces and seat belt webbing may be lightly cleaned with mild soap and water. Ensure there is no excessive dust or debris in the mechanism. If dust or debris exists in the system please see the dealer. Parts may need to be replaced to ensure the proper functionality of the system.
Warning
Do not bleach or dye seat belt webbing. It may severely weaken the webbing. In a crash, they might not be able to provide adequate protection. Clean and rinse seat belt webbing only with mild soap and lukewarm water. Allow the webbing to dry.
Replacing Seat Belt System Parts after a Crash
Warning
A crash can damage the seat belt system in the vehicle. A damaged seat belt system may not properly protect the person using it, resulting in serious injury or even death in a crash. To help make sure the seat belt systems are working properly after a crash, have them inspected and any necessary replacements made as soon as possible. After a minor crash, the replacement of seat belts may not be necessary. However, the seat belt assemblies that were used during any crash may have been stressed or damaged.
See your dealer to have the seat belt assemblies inspected or replaced. New parts and repairs may be necessary even if the seat belt system was not being used at the time of the crash. Have the seat belt pre-tensioners checked if the vehicle has been in a crash, or if the airbag readiness light stays on after you start the vehicle or while you are driving. See Airbag Readiness Light 0 98.
FAQS
The “Buckle to Drive” feature is an intelligent system that links the ignition to the fastening of the driver’s seat belt, allowing the engine to start only when the seat belt is securely fastened.
The system prompts the driver to fasten their seat belt upon entering the vehicle. The engine will only start once the seat belt is properly secured.
The ability to disable or customize the “Buckle to Drive” feature may depend on the vehicle’s settings.
The primary focus of the “Buckle to Drive” system is on the driver’s seat. However, specific details regarding other seating positions can be found in the vehicle’s documentation.
The engine will not start until the driver’s seat belt is securely fastened. The system will provide a visual or audible prompt to remind the driver to buckle up.
The “Buckle to Drive” system is typically designed to impact the driver’s seat only. Passengers may not be subject to the same restriction.
It is recommended to use the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) seat belts. Aftermarket modifications, including extenders, may impact the system’s functionality.
Emergency override options may vary.
Yes, the vehicle typically provides a visual indicator, such as a dashboard light, confirming that the seat belt is securely fastened.
The system is usually designed to function in any gear position, preventing the engine from starting until the seat belt is fastened.
The system is generally designed to prompt the driver to fasten the seat belt before starting the engine. Fastening the seat belt after the engine has started may not be effective in some cases.
Retrofitting the “Buckle to Drive” system to older models may not be straightforward and is generally not recommended. It is advisable to consult with the dealership for specific information.
Seat belt systems are typically designed to accommodate a range of body sizes. Refer to the vehicle’s documentation for any specific requirements.
Depending on the vehicle’s settings, there may be options to disable the “Buckle to Drive” feature temporarily.
The system promotes responsible driving habits, ensuring that the driver is securely fastened before operating the vehicle. This contributes to enhanced driver and passenger safety by reducing the risk of accidents related to unrestrained driving.
Useful Links
View Full User Guide: Cadillac CT5 2023 User Guide
Download Manuals: https://www.cadillac.com/support/vehicle/manuals-guides
Cadillac CT5 2023 Child Restraints And Storage User Guide
2023 Cadillac CT5 Specs, Price, Features, Mileage and Review