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3-52
Seats & Safety System
• Air bags inflate in the event of certain
frontal or side collisions to help protect
the occupants from serious physical
injury.
• Generally, air bags are designed to
inflate based upon the severity of a
collision, its direction, or etc. These two
factors determine whether the sensors
produce an electronic
deployment/inflation signal.
• 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 hanging out of
their storage compartments after the
collision.
• In addition to inflating in serious side
collisions, vehicles equipped with a
rollover sensor, side and curtain air
bags and front center side air bag will
inflate if the sensing system detects a
rollover.
When a rollover is detected, curtain air
bags will remain inflated longer to help
provide protection from ejection,
especially when used in conjunction
with the seat belts.
• To help provide protection, the air bags
must inflate rapidly. The speed of air
bag inflation is a consequence of
extremely short time in which to inflate
the air bag between the occupant and
the vehicle structures before the
occupant impacts those structures.
This speed of inflation reduces the risk
of serious or life-threatening injuries
and is thus a necessary part of air bag
design.
However, the rapid 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.
• There are even circumstances under
which contact with the air bag can
cause fatal injuries, especially if the
occupant is positioned excessively
close to the air bag.
You can take steps to reduce the risk of
being injured by an inflating air bag. The
greatest risk is sitting too close to the air
bag. An air bag needs about 10 in. (25 cm)
of space to inflate. NHTSA recommends
that drivers allow at least 10 in. (25 cm)
between the center of the steering wheel
and the chest.
WARNING
To reduce the risk of serious injury or
death from an inflating air bag, take the
following precautions:
• NEVER place a child restraint in the
front passenger seat.
Always properly restrain children under
age 13 in the rear seats of the vehicle.
• Adjust the front passenger’s and
driver's seats as far to the rear as
possible while maintaining you to
maintain full control of the vehicle.
• Hold the steering wheel with hands at
the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions.
• Never place anything or anyone
between the air bag and the seat
occupant.
• Do not allow the front passenger to
place their feet or legs on the
dashboard.
JK1_en_US.book Page 52
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