___ A_ir_b_a_g=- s-a.y_s_t_e_m _________________________________________________ _
If the front airbags dep loy, the knee airbags also dep loy in frontal
coll isions above a cert ain sever ity.
When the system is deployed, the airbags start to fi ll with a prope l-
lant gas, and inflate between the lower part of the inst rument pane l
and t he dr iver and the lowe r part of the instrument pane l and t he
front passenge r =>
page 227, fig. 232.
Alt ho ugh t hey are not a soft pill ow, t hey can "cushion" th e im pact
and in th is way they can help to reduce t he ris k of injury to the lower
extr em it ies.
All thi s ta kes pl ace in stanta ne ous ly, so fast t hat many peop le do n't
even rea lize that t he airbags have deployed. The ai rbags also inflate
wi t h a great de al of fo rce and it is impo rt ant for occu pant safet y t hat
not hing shou ld be in t heir wa y when they dep loy.
Fully infla t ed airb ags in co mbin ati on w ith pro perly w orn safe ty belt s
slow down and limit the occupant's for w ard mov eme nt and help to
reduc e th e risk . •
Important safety instructions on the knee
airbag system
A ir bags are only suppl emental restraints. A lway s w ear
safety belts corre ctly and rid e in a proper seat ing po sition .
There is a lot t hat you and yo ur passeng ers m ust know and do t o
help th e safet y belts and ai rbags to provide supp lemental protec -
ti on.
& WARNING
An inflating knee airbag can cause serious injury. Wearing safety
belts incorrectly and improper seating positions increase the risk
of serious personal injury and death whenever a vehicle is being
used.
• The airbag system cannot protect you properly if you are
seated too close to any of the airbag locations . When adjusting
& WARNING (continued)
their seat positions, it is important that both the driver and the
front passenger keep their upper bodies and knees at the
following minimum safe distances :
- 1
O inches (25 cm) between the chest and the steering
wheel/instrument panel .
- 4 inches (10 cm) between the knees and the lower part of the
instrument panel.
• The risk of personal injury increases if you lean forward or to
the side, or if the seat is improperly positioned and you are not
wearing your safety belt . The risk increases even more should the
airbag deploy .
• Always make sure that the knee airbag can inflate without
interference . Objects between yourself and the airbag can
increase the risk of injury in an accident by interfering with the
way the airbag deploys or by being pushed into you as the airbag
deploys.
- No persons (children) or animals should ride in the footwell
in front of the passenger seat . If the airbag deploys, this can
result in serious or fatal injuries .
- No objects of any kind should be carried in the footwell area
in front of the driver's or passenger's seat. Bulky objects (shop-
ping bags , for example) can hamper or prevent proper deploy-
ment of the airbag . Small objects can be thrown through the
vehicle if the airbag deploys and injure you or your passengers .
• Make sure there are no cracks , deep scratches or other damage
in the area of the instrument panel where the knee airbags are
located.
• If children are incorrectly seated , their risk of injury increases in
the case of an accident
=> page 243 , "Child Safety". •
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