2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser Owner Manual - Page 90

90 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE Airbags inflate in moderate to high speed impacts. Along with seat belts and pretensioners, front airbags work with the driver inflatable knee blocker to provide improved protection for the driver and front passenger. Side airbags also work with seat belts to improve occupant protection. The seat belts are designed to protect you in many types of collisions. The front airbags deploy in moderate to severe frontal collisions. If your vehicle is equipped, the side airbag on the crash side of the vehicle is triggered in moderate to severe side collisions. In certain types of collisions, both the front and side airbags may be triggered. But even in collisions where the airbags work, you need the seat belts to keep you in the right position for the airbags to protect you properly. NOTE: The passenger front airbag may not deploy even when the driver front airbag has if the Occupant Classification System (refer to ЉOccupant Classification SystemЉ in this section) has determined the passenger seat is empty or is occupied by someone that is classified in the "child" category. This could be a child, a teenager, or even a small adult. Here are some simple steps you can take to minimize the risk of harm from a deploying airbag. 1. Children 12 years old and under should always ride buckled up in a rear seat. Infants in rear facing child restraints should NEVER ride in the front seat of a vehicle with a passenger front airbag. An airbag deployment can cause severe injury or death to infants in that position. Children that are not big enough to properly wear the vehicle seat belt (see Section on Child Restraints) should be secured in the rear seat in child restraints or beltpositioning booster seats. Older children who do not use child restraints or belt-positioning booster seats should ride properly buckled up in the rear seat. Never allow children to slide the shoulder belt behind them or under their arm.