2005 Dodge Dakota Owner Manual - Page 43

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 43 Along with the seat belts, front airbags work with the instrument panel knee bolsters to provide improved protection for the driver and front passenger. Window bags 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. 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 Љsmall childЉ category. If your vehicle is so equipped, the window bag on the crash side of the vehicle is triggered in moderate to severe side collisions. 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. Here are some simple steps you can follow to minimize the risk of harm from a deploying airbag. 1. Children 12 years and under should always ride buckled up in a rear seat in an appropriate child restraint. 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. If a child from 1 to 12 years old must ride in the front passenger seat because the vehicle is crowded, move the seat as far back as possible, and use the proper child restraint. See ЉChild RestraintЉ in this section. You should read the instructions provided with your child restraint to make sure that you are using it properly. 2