1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Owner's Manual - Page 31

A When should an air bag inflate? An air bagis designed to inflate in a moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal crash. The a i r bag will inflate only ifthe 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 is level about 9 to 16 mph (14 to 26 km/h). 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 something that will move or deform, such as a parked car, the threshold level will be higher. The a i r bag is not designed to inflate in rollovers, side 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 of what the repair costs were. Inflation is determined by the angle of the impact and how quickly the vehicle slows down in frontal or near-frontal impacts. If something is between an occupant andan air bag, the bag might not inflate properly or it might force the object into that person. Thepath of an inflating air bag must be kept clear. Don't put anything between an occupant andan air bag, and don't attach or put anything on the steering wheelhub or on or near any other air bag covering. 1-24