244 SAFETY
Front Air Bag Operation
Front Air Bags are designed to provide additional protection
by su
pplementing the seat belts. Front air bags are not
expected to reduce the risk of injury in rear, side, or rollover
collisions. The front air bags will not deploy in all frontal
collisions, including some that may produce substantial
vehicle damage — for example, some pole collisions, truck
underrides, and angle offset collisions.
On the other hand, depending on the type and location of
impa
ct, front air bags may deploy in crashes with little
vehicle front-end damage but that produce a severe initial
deceleration.
Because air bag sensors measure vehicle deceleration over
time
, vehicle speed and damage by themselves are not good
indicators of whether or not an air bag should have
deployed.
Seat belts are necessary for your protection in all collisions,
and
also are needed to help keep you in position, away from
an inflating air bag.
When the ORC detects a collision requiring the front air bags,
it s
ignals the inflator units. A large quantity of non-toxic gas
is generated to inflate the front air bags.
The steering wheel hub trim cover and the upper passenger
side
of the instrument panel separate and fold out of the way
as the air bags inflate to their full size. The front air bags fully
inflate in less time than it takes to blink your eyes. The front
air bags then quickly deflate while helping to restrain the
driver and front passenger.
Occupant Classification System (OCS) — Front
Passenger
Seat
The OCS is part of a Federally regulated safety system for
this
vehicle. It is designed to activate or deactivate the
Passenger Advanced Front Air Bag depending on the occu
-
pant’s seated weight. It is designed to deactivate the
Pass
enger Advanced Front Air Bag for an unoccupied seat
and for occupants whose seated weight classifies them in a
category other than a properly seated adult. This could be a
child, teenager, or even an adult.
• Relying on the air bags alone could lead to more severe
inj
uries in a collision. The air bags work with your seat
belt to restrain you properly. In some collisions, air
bags won’t deploy at all. Always wear your seat belts
even though you have air bags.
WARNING! (Continued)
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