1997 Pontiac Grand Prix Owner's Manual - Page 34

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 bady, stopping the occupant more gradually. But air bags would not helpyou in many types of collisions, including rollovers, rear impacts and 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 tn safety belts, andthen only in moderate to severe front:.- ~r newfrontal collisions. When an air bag inflates, there is dust in the air. This dust could cause breathing problems for people with a history of asthma or other breathing trouble.To avoid this, everyone the in vehicle should get out as as itis safe to do so. soon If you have breathing problems but get out can't of the vehicle after an air bag inflates, then get fresh air by opening a window or door. In many crashes severeenough ta inflate an air bag, windshields are broken by vehicle deformation. Additional windshield breakage may also occur from the right front passenger air bag. Air bags are designed to inflate onlyonce. After they inflate, you'll need some new parts for your air bag system. If you don't get them, the air bag system won't be there to help protect you in another crash. A new system will include air modules and bag possibly other parts. The servicemanual for your vehicle covers the need to replace other parts. What will you see afteran air bag inflates? After an air bag inflates, itquickly deflates, so quickly that some people may not even realize the air bag inflated. Somecomponents o'fthe air bag module -- the steering wheel hub for the driver's air bag, or the instrument panel for the right front passenger's bag -- will be hot for short time. The partsof the bag a that come into contactwith you may be warm, but not too hot to touch. Therewill be some smoke and dust coming from vents in the deflated air bags. Air bag inflation doesn't prevent thedriver from seeing or from being able tosteer the vehicle, nor does it stoppeople from leaving thevehkle. 1-26