2003 GMC Safari Owner's Manual - Page 74

What Makes an Air Bag Inflate? In an impact of sufficient severity, the air bag sensing system detects that the vehicle is ina crash. The sensing system triggers a re!ease 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 and the instrument panel in front of the in right frontpassenger. How Does an Air Bag Restrain? In moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions, even belted occupants can contact the 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. But 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 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. 1-67