1997 Buick Park Avenue Owner's Manual - Page 35

/ I CAUTIGII: I 1 When should an airbag inflate? An air bag is designed to inflate in a moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal crash. The air bag will inflate only if theimpact speed is above the system's designed "threshold level." Ifyour vehicle goes straight into a wall that doesn't move ordeform, the threshold level is about 9 to 15 mph (14 to 24 k d h ) . The threshold level can vary, however, with specific vehicle design, so that it can be somewhat above or below this range. If your vehicle strikes something that will move or deform, such as a parked car, the threshold level will be higher. The air bag is not designed to inflate in rollovers, side impacts or rear impacts, because inflation would not help the occupant. In any particular crash, no one can say whether an air bag should have inflated simply because of the 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 infrontal or near-frontal impacts. If something is between occupant and anair an bag, the bag may not inflate properly or itmight force the object into that person. The path of an inflating air bag must be kept clear. Don't put anything between an occupant and an airbag, and don't attach or put anything on the steering wheel hub or on or near any other air bag covering. 1-23