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Safety features of your vehicle
443
How does the air bag system
operate
• Air bags are activated (able to inflate if
necessary) only when the ignition switch
is turned to the ON or START position.
• 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 occu-
pants from serious physical injury.
• There is no single speed at which the air
bags will inflate.
Generally, air bags are designed to
inflate based upon the severity of a colli-
sion and its direction. These two factors
determine whether the sensors produce
an electronic deployment/ inflation sig-
nal.
• Air bag deployment depends on a num-
ber of factors including vehicle speed,
angles of impact and the density and
stiffness of the vehicles or objects which
your vehicle hits in the collision. The
determining, factors are not limited to
those mentioned above.
• 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 col-
lisions, 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, curtain air
bags will remain inflated longer to help
provide protection from ejection, espe-
cially when used in conjunction with the
seat belts.
• 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 extremely short time in
which a collision occurs and the need to
get the air bag between the occupant
and the vehicle structures before the
occupant impacts those structures. This
speed of inflation reduces the risk of seri-
ous or life-threatening injuries in a severe
collision and is thus a necessary 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.
• There are even circumstances
under which contact with the steer-
ing wheel air bag can cause fatal
injuries, especially if the occupant
is positioned excessively close to
the steering wheel.
WARNING
• To avoid severe personal injury
or death caused by deploying air
bags in a collision, the driver
should sit as far back from the
steering wheel air bag as possible
(at least (10 inches) 250 mm
away).The front passenger should
always move their seat as far
back as possible and sit back in
their seat.
• Air bag inflates instantly in an
event of a collision, passengers
may be injured by the air bag
expansion force if they are not in
a proper position.
• Air bag inflation may cause
injuries including facial or bodily
abrasions, injuries from broken
glasses or burns.
EL(FL) UK 3.QXP 12/16/2014 8:56 PM Page 44
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