Airbag system128
Side airbags*
Description of side airbags
The side airbag increases protection of the passenger concerned in
the case of a side impact.
The side airbags are housed in the upholstery of the backrests of the front seats and are marked with the lettering “AIRBAG” ⇒fig. 118 on the middle part.
The side airbag system in combination with the three-point seat belts, offers addi- tional protection for the upper area of th e body (chest, stomach and pelvis) in the event of severe side collisions ⇒ in “Important safety information on the side airbag” on page 129.
Apart from their normal protective function, a further task of the seat belts is to also hold the driver and front passenger in a correct seated position in the event of a side collision so as to enable the side airbags to offer the maximum protection.
You should therefore always fasten the seat belts, not only because this is required by law, but also for safety reasons and for your own protection ⇒page 118, “Why seat belts?”.
Function of the side airbags
Risk of injury to the upper part of the body is reduced by fully inflated
side airbags.
In the case of a violent side crash, the side airbags in the front seat and the head airbags on the side of the car at wh ich the collision occurs, are deployed ⇒fig. 119.
In certain accident situations both the front airbags as well as the head and side airbags may be deployed together.
If an airbag is deployed, th e airbag is filled with propellant gas. The airbags inflate in fractions of a second and at a high spee d in order to be able to offer that addi- tional protection in the event of an accident.
A grey white, non harmful gas is released when airbag is inflated. This is perfectly normal and is not an indicati on of a fire in the vehicle.
The load of the occupants is cushioned when plunging into the fully inflated airbag and the risk of injury to the entire up per body (chest, stomach and pelvis) is reduced on the side facing the door.
Fig. 118 Driver seat: Installation position of airbag
Fig. 119 Side airbags deployed
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Airbag system130
Head airbags*
Description of the head airbags
The head airbag together with the side airbag offers enhanced occu-
pant protection in the event of a side collision.
The head airbags are positioned above the d oors on both sides in the interior of the car ⇒page 130, fig. 120. The installation positions of the head airbags are each marked with the “AIRBAG” logo.
The head airbag together with the three-point seat belts and the side airbags, offers additional protection for the head and neck area of the occupants in the event of a side collision of major severity ⇒ in “Important safety information on the head airbag” on page 131.
Apart from their normal protective function, a further task of the seat belts is to also hold the driver and the occupants in a correct seated position in the event of a side collision so as to enable the head airbags to offer the maximum protection.
You should therefore always fasten the seat belts, not only because this is required by law, but also for safety reasons and for your own protection ⇒page 118.
Together with other elements (such as cros s bars in the doors, stable vehicle struc- ture) the head airbags are the conseque nt further development of occupant protection in the case of side collisions.
Function of the head airbags
The risk of injury to the head and ne ck area is reduced in the event of
a side collision by fully inflated head airbags.
In the case of a side collision the head airbag is deployed together with the rele- vant side airbag on the side of th e car on which the accident occurs ⇒fig. 121.
If the head airbag is deployed, the airbag is filled with propellant gas and covers the entire area of the side window including the door pillars ⇒fig. 121.
The protection offered by the head airbags is thus available simultaneously both to the front occupants of the car seated on th e side on which the accident occurs, as well as to the rear occupants. Any impact of the head against par ts of the interior or objects outside of the car, is cushioned by the inflated head airbag. The reduction in any impact to the head and the result ant minimizing of any movements of the head additionally reduce the risk of injuries to the neck area. In certain accident situations both the front airbags as well as the side and head airbags may be deployed together.
Fig. 120 Installation position of the head airbags
Fig. 121 Inflated head airbag
NKO A05F 20 MR08.book Page 130 Thursday, April 19, 2007 11:34 AM
