Safety features of your vehicle
303
Air bag - advanced supplemental restraint system
How does the air bag system
operate
僅 Air bags are activated (able to inflate
if necessary) only when the ignition
switch is turned to the ON or START
position.
僅 Air bags inflate instantly in the event
of serious frontal or side collision (if
equipped with side air bag or curtain
air bag) in order to help protect the
occupants from serious physical
injury.
Generally, air bags are designed to
inflate based upon the severity of a
collision and its direction. These two
factors determine whether the sen
-
sors produce an electronic deploy
-
ment/inflation signal.
僅 Air bag deployment depends on a
number of complex factors including
vehicle speed, angles of impact and
the density and stiffness of the vehi
-
cles or objects which your vehicle hits
in the collision.Though, factors are not
limited to those mentioned above. Air
-
bags deploy depending on the sever
-
ity and angle of the impact.
Airbags do not deploy in every impact
situation.
僅 The front air bags will completely
inflate and deflate in an instant.
It is virtually impossible for you to see
the air bags inflate during an accident.
It is much more likely that you will
simply see the deflated air bags hang
-
ing out of their storage compartments
after the collision.
僅 In addition to inflating in certain side
collisions, vehicles equipped with a
rollover sensor, side and curtain air
bags will inflate if the sensing system
detects a rollover.
When a rollover is detected, side and
curtain air bags will remain inflated
longer to help provide protection from
ejection, especially when used in con
-
junction with the seat belts.
僅In order to help provide protection in
a severe collision, the air bags must
inflate rapidly. The speed of air bag
inflation is a consequence of the
extremely short time in which a colli
-
sion occurs and the need to get the air
bag between the occupant and the
vehicle structures before the occu
-
pant impacts those structures. This
speed of inflation reduces the risk of
serious or life-threatening injuries in a
severe collision and is thus a neces
-
sary part of air bag design.
However, air bag inflation can also
cause injuries which can include facial
abrasions, bruises and broken bones
because the inflation speed also
causes the air bags to expand with a
great deal of force.
僅 There are even circumstances
under which contact with the steer
-
ing wheel or passenger air bag can
cause fatal injuries, especially if the
occupant is positioned excessively
close to the steering wheel or pas
-
senger air bag.
Airbag Inflation
Sit as far back as possible from the
steering wheel while still maintaining
comfortable control of the your vehicle.
A distance of at least 10" (25cm) from
your chest to the steering wheel is rec
-
ommended. Failure to do so can result in
airbag inflation injuries to the driver.
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