2005 Honda Civic Owner's Manual - Page 25

Additional Information About Your Airbags How Your Side Airbags Work On models equipped Only one airbag will deploy during a side impact. If the impact is on the passenger's side, the passenger's side airbag will deploy even if there is no passenger. To get the best protection from the side airbags, front seat occupants should wear their seat belts and sit upright and well back in their seats. Side Airbag Cutoff System To reduce the risk of injury from an inflating side airbag, your vehicle has an automatic cutoff system for the passenger's side airbag. Although Honda does not encourage children to ride in front, this system is designed to shut off the side airbag if a child leans into the side airbag's path. The side airbag may also shut off if a short adult leans sideways, or a larger adult slouches and leans sideways into the airbag's deployment path. Objects placed on the front passenger seat can also cause the side airbag to be shut off. If you ever have a moderate to severe side impact, sensors will detect rapid deceleration and signal the control unit to instantly inflate either the driver's or the passenger's side airbag. 24