2006 Dodge Magnum Owner's Manual - Page 38

38 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE Airbags inflate in moderate to high speed impacts. Along with the seat belts, front airbags work with the instrument panel knee bolsters to provide improved protection for the driver and front passenger. Left and right side curtain airbags also work with seat belts to improve occupant protection. The seat belts are designed to protect you in many types of collisions. The front airbags deploy only in moderate to severe frontal collisions. If your vehicle is so equipped, the side curtain airbag on the crash side of the vehicle is triggered in moderate to severe side collisions. In certain types of collisions where the airbags deploy, you need the seat belts to keep you in the right position for the airbags to protect you properly. Here are some simple steps you can take to minimize the risk of harm from a deploying airbag. 1. Children 12 years old and under should ride buckled up in the rear seat. Infants in rear-facing child restraints should NEVER ride in the front seat of a vehicle with a passenger front airbag. An airbag deployment could cause severe injury or death to infants in that position. Children that are not big enough to properly wear the vehicle seat belt (see section on "Child Restraint") should be secured in the rear seat in child restraints or beltpositioning booster seats. Older children who do not use child restraints or beltpositioning booster seats should ride properly buckled up in the rear seat. Never allow children to slide the shoulder belt behind them or under their arm. If a child from 1 to 12 years old must ride in the front passenger seat because the vehicle is crowded, move the seat as far back as possible, and use the proper child restraint. See the section on "Child Restraint". 2. You should read the instructions provided with your child restraint to make sure that you are using it properly. 3. All occupants should use their seat belts properly. 4. The driver and front passenger seats should be moved back as far as practical to allow the airbags time to inflate. 5. If your vehicle has left and right side curtain airbags, do not lean against the door, airbags will inflate forcefully into the space between you and the door.