1997 Chevrolet Blazer Owner's Manual - Page 30

When should an air bag inflate? What makes an air bag inflate? In an impact of sufficient severity, the air bag sensing system detects that the vehicle in a crash. The sensing is system triggers a release of gas from the inflator, which inflates the air bag. The inflator, air bag and related hardware are all part the air bag module inside the of steering wheel. An air bag is designed to inflate a moderate to severe in frontal or near-frontal crash. The air bag will inflate only if the impact speedis above the system's designed "threshold level." If your vehicle goes straight into a wall that doesn't move or deform, the threshold level is about 14 to 18 mph (23 to 29 kmh). 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 somethingthat will move or deform, such as a parked car, the threshold levelwill be higher. The air bag is not designed to inflate rollovers, side in 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 what the repair costs were. of Inflation is determinedby the angleof the impact and how quickly the vehicle slows down in frontal and near-frontal impacts. The air bag systemis designed to work properly under a wide range of conditions, including off-road usage. Observe safe driving speeds, especially rough terrain. on As always, wear your safety belt. See "Off-Road Driving" in the Index for more tips on off-road driving. How does anair bag restrain? In moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions, even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel. 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 air bags would not help you in many typesof collisions, including rollovers, rear impacts and side impacts, primarily because an occupant's motion not toward the air bag. is Air bags should never regarded as anything more be than a supplement to safety belts, and then onlyin moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions. 1-23