2007 Lexus GS 450h User Guide - Page 90

1-8. Safety information In certain types of severe frontal or side impacts, the SRS airbag system triggers the airbag inflators. A chemical reaction in the inflators quickly fills the airbags with non-toxic gas to help restrain the motion of the occupants. 1 n If the SRS airbags deploy (inflate) Before driving l Bruising and slight abrasions may result from contact with a deploying (inflating) SRS airbag. l A loud noise and white powder will be emitted. l Parts of the airbag module (steering wheel hub, airbag cover and inflator) as well as the front seats, and parts of the front pillar and roof side rail, may be hot for several minutes. The airbag itself may also be hot. l The windshield may crack. n Operating conditions (front airbags) l The SRS front airbags will deploy if the severity of the frontal impact is above the designed threshold level, comparable to an approximate 15 mph (25 km/h) collision in the U.S.A. and 18 mph (30 km/h) collision in Canada when the vehicle impacts straight into a fixed barrier that does not move or deform. However, this threshold velocity will be considerably higher if the vehicle strikes an object, such as a parked vehicle or sign pole, which can move or deform on impact, or if the vehicle is involved in an underride collision (e.g. a collision in which the front of the vehicle "underrides", or goes under, the bed of a truck, etc.). l It is possible that in some collisions where the forward deceleration of the vehi- cle is very close to the designed threshold level, the SRS front airbags and the seat belt pretensioners may not activate together. l The SRS front passenger airbag will not activate, if there is not passenger sitting in the front passenger seat. However, the front passenger airbag may deploy, if luggage is put in the seat or the seat belt is buckled up, regardless of the presence of an occupant in the seat. 71