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– airbags control unit mounted between the driver and the pas-
senger seats;
– signal device of airbags system control malfunction on the
instrument cluster;
– signal device of unfastened seatbelt on the instrument cluster.
Airbags are auxiliary means of protection for the fastened
driver, front passenger, and they actuate at severe frontal collision,
starting from a specic collision severity;
Airbags system should actuate at severe frontal collisions.
However, the airbags system may actuate in other emergency
situations, if the vehicle experiences an impact similar to that at
severe frontal collision.
Situations when the airbags system actuates:
– collision with non-deformable xed barrier: airbag actuates
at slow vehicle speed;
– collision with moving deformable barrier (for instance, with
another motor vehicle): airbag actuates only at high vehicle speed;
– in case of a sufcient force of front impact on the vehicle,
some examples are shown on (Fig. 3.36).
Airbags system does not actuate if:
– the ignition is off;
– minor frontal collisions;
– vehicle rollover;
– side or back blows to the vehicle, i.e., in cases when the
airbag is not able to increase the driver’s safety.
Damage degree of the vehicle body at collision (or absence
of serious damage) is not always an indicator of frontal airbags
malfunction or normal function. When airbags unfold, there is
almost no danger of limiting visibility for the driver, as the airbag
is lled and emptied for a short period of time. The airbag provides
optimum protection if the seat, backrest and headrest are mounted
correctly. The whole back should be tightly born against the back-
rest of the seat, and the seat should be as far as possible for the
driver in a vertical seated position to hold the steering wheel with
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