1996 Oldsmobile 88 Owner's Manual - Page 30

How does an air bag restrain? In moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions, even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel or the instrument panel.Air bags supplement the protection When an air bag inflates, there is dust in the air. provided by safety belts.Air bags distribute the force of This dust could cause breathing problems for the impact more evenly over the occupant's upper body, people with a history of asthma or other stopping the occupant more gradually. But bags would ar i breathing trouble. To avoid this, everyone in the not help youin many types of collisions, including vehicle should get out as soon it is safe to do as so. rollovers, rear impacts and side impacts, primarily because If you have breathing problems but can't get out an occupant's motionis not toward thosea r bags. Air i of the vehicle after an air bag inflates, then get bags should neverbe regarded as anythmg more thana fresh air by opening a window or door. supplement to safety belts, and then only moderate to in severe frontal or near-frontal collisions. What will you see after an air bag inflates? In many crashes severe enough to inflate air bag, an windshields are broken vehicle deformation. by After anair bag inflates, it quickly deflates,so quickly Additional windshield breakage may also occur from the that some people may not even realize the air bag right front passenger air bag. inflated. Some components the air bag module the of in steering wheel hub the driver's air bag, or the for Air bags are designed to inflate only once. After they instrument panel the rightfront passenger's bag, will for inflate, you'll need some parts for your air bag new be hotfor a short time. parts of the bag that come The system. If you don't getthem, the air system bag into contact with may be warm, but not hot to you too won't be there to help protect you in another crash. touch. There will be some smoke and dust coming from A new system will include air bag modules and vents in the deflated air bags. Air bag inflation doesn't possibly other parts. The service manualfor your prevent the driver from seeing from being able to or vehicle covers the need to replace other parts. steer the vehicle, nor does it stop people from leaving the vehicle. 1-22