2003 Cadillac DeVille Owner's Manual - Page 63

What Makes an Air Bag Inflate? In an impact of sufficient severity, the air bag sensing system detects that the vehicle is ina crash. For both the frontal and side impact air bags, the sensing system triggers a release of gas from the inflator, which inflates the air bag. Theinflator, air bag and related hardware are all part of the air bag modulesinside the steering wheel, instrument panel and the side of the front seatbacks and behind the rear seatbacks closest to the door. How Does an Air Bag Restrain? In moderate to severe frontal or near frontal collisions, even belted occupants can contact the steering wheelor the instrument panel. In moderate to severe side collisions, even belted occupants can contact the inside of the vehicle. The air bag supplements 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 the frontal air bags would not help you in many types of collisions, including rollovers, rear impacts, and many side impacts, primarily because an occupant's motion is not toward the air bag. Side impact air bags would not help you in many types of collisions, including frontal or near frontal collisions, rollovers, and rear 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 for the driver's and right front passenger's frontal air bags, and only in moderate to severe side collisions for the side impact air bags. 1-56