1998 Chevrolet Lumina Owner's Manual - Page 33

In any particular crash, one can say whether an air no bag should have inflated simply because the damage of to a vehicle of U I or because what the repair costs were. Inflation is determined the angle of the impact and by If somethingis between an occupant and an air how quickly the vehicle slows down frontal or in near-frontal impacts. bag, the bag might not inflate properly or it might force the object into that person. The path What makes an air bag inflate? of an inflating air bag must be kept clear. Don't In an impact of sufficient severity,the air bag sensing put anything between an occupant and an air system detects that vehicle is in a crash. sensing the The bag, and don't attach or put anything on the system triggers a release gas from the inflator, which of steering wheel hub or on or near any other air inflates the air bag. The inflator, air bag and related bag covering. hardware are all part of the air bag modules inside the steering wheel and the instrument panel in front the in of When should an air bag inflate? right front passenger. How does an air bag restrain? An air bag is designed to inflate in a moderate severe to frontal or near-frontal crash. The air bag willinflate In moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions, only if the impact speed above the system's designed is even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel or "threshold level." If your vehicle goes straight a into the instrument panel. Air bags supplement the protection wall that doesn't move deform, the threshold level or is provided by safety belts. Air bags distribute the force of about 9 to 15 mph (14 to 24 km/h). The threshold level the impact more evenly over the occupant's upper body, can vary, however, with specific vehicle design, that so stopping the occupant more gradually. But bags would air it can be somewhat above or below this range. If your not help you in many types of collisions, including rollovers, rear impacts and side impacts, primarily vehicle strikes something that will move deform, such or because an occupant's motion not toward those air is as a parked car, threshold level will be higher. the The bags. Air bags should never be regarded as anything air bag is not designed to inflate in rollovers, side more than a supplement to safety belts, and then only in impacts orrear impacts, because inflation would not moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions. help the occupant.