2001 Honda Civic Owner's Manual - Page 54

Additional Information About Your Airbags How The Side Airbag Indicator Light Works Only on models equipped with side airbags This light alerts you that the passenger's side airbag has been automatically shut off. To reduce the risk of injury from an inflating side airbag, your car has an automatic cutoff system for the passenger's side airbag. Although Honda does not encourage children to ride in the front, this system is designed to shut off the side airbag if a child leans sideways and the child's head is in the side airbag deployment path. If a small-statured adult leans sideways, or larger adult slouches and leans sideways into the deployment path of the side airbag, the system may also shut off the side airbag. If the side airbag indicator light comes on, you should have the passenger sit upright. Once the passenger is out of the deployment path of the side airbag, the system will turn the airbag back on and the light will go out. A front seat passenger should not use a cushion or other object as a backrest. It may prevent the cutoff system from working properly. When you turn the ignition ON (II), the indicator should light briefly and go out (see page 61 ). If it doesn't light, stays on, or comes on while driving without a passenger in the front seat, have the system checked. 52 Driver and Passenger Safety