In any particular crash, no one can say whether an air
bag
should have inflated simply because ofthe damage
to
a vehicle or because of what the repair costs were.
Inflation
is determined by the angle of the impact and
how quickly the vehicle slows down
in frontal or
near-frontal impacts.
What makes an air bag inflate?
In an impact of sufficient severity, the air bag sensing
system detects that the vehicle is in a crash. The sensing
system triggers
a release of gas from the inflator, which
inflates the
air bag. The inflator, air bag and related
hardware are
all part of the air bag modules inside the
steering wheel and in the instrument panel in front of the
right front passenger.
How does an air bag restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions,
even belted occupants can contact
the steering wheel or
the instrument panel. Air bags supplement the protection
provided by safety belts. Air bags distribute the force of
the impact more evenly over the occupant’s upper
body.
stopping the occupant more gradually. But air bags would
not help you in many types of collisions, including
rollovers, rear impacts and side impacts, primarily
because an occupant’s motion is not toward those air
bags. Air bags should never be regarded
as anything
more than
a supplement to safety belts, and then only in
moderate
to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions.
What will YQU see after an air bag inflates?
After an air bag inflates, it quickly deflates, so quickly
that
some people may not even realize the air bag
inflated. Some components
of the air bag module -- the
steering wheel hub
for the driver’s air bag, or the
instmrnent panel for the right front passenger’s
bag
-- will be hot for a short time. $he parts of the
bag that corne into contact
with you rnrty be warm,
but not too hot to touch. Therc will bc some smoke
and dust corning
from vents in tlrc rtcBlated air bags. Air
bag inflation doesn’t prevent the ch-iver li.om seeing or
from being able
to steer the vehick. IICX does it stop
people from leaving the vehicic.
When an air bag inflates, there is dust. in the ais.
This dust could cause breathing problerns for
people with a history of asthma or other
breathing trouble. ab avoid this, everyone in the
vehicle should get
out as soon as it is safe to do so.
If you have breathing problems but can’t get out
of the vehicle after an air bag inflates, then get
fresh air by opening a window or door.
ProCarManuals.com
