2011 Acura RL Owner's Manual - Page 39

Additional Information About Your Airbags Side Airbag Cutoff System Your vehicle has a side airbag cutoff system designed primarily to protect a child riding in the front passenger's seat. Although Acura does not encourage children to ride in front, if the position sensors detect a child has leaned into the side airbag's deployment path, the airbag will shut off. 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 the side airbag off indicator comes on (see page 35 ), have the passenger sit upright. Once the passenger is out of the airbag's deployment path, the system will turn the airbag back on, and the indicator will go out. There will be some delay between the moment the passenger moves into or out of the airbag deployment path and when the indicator comes on or goes off. A front seat passenger should not use a cushion or another object as a backrest. It may prevent the cutoff system from working properly. How Your Side Curtain Airbags Work SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG Driver and Passenger Safety In a moderate to severe side impact, sensors will detect rapid acceleration and signal the control unit to instantly inflate the side curtain airbag. CONTINUED 33