1998 Buick Park Avenue Owner's Manual - Page 37

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 contactthe 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. air bags would But 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 anything as 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 w i l l 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. i n 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 out vehicle should get as soon as it is safe to do so. If you have breathing problems but can't get out of the vehicle afteran air bag inflates, then get fresh air by opening a window or door.