Front Air Bags - Fiat Bravo Owner's Manual

FRONT AIR BAGS

The car is fitted with front air bags for the
driver, for the passenger and with driver's
knees air bag (for versions/markets, where
provided).
The front air bags (driver and passenger)
and driver's knees air bag (for ver-
sions/markets, where provided) have been
designed to protect the occupants in the
event of head-on crashes of medium-high
severity, by placing the cushion between
the occupant and the steering wheel or
dashboard.
Front air bags are designed to protect
car's occupants in front crashes and there-
fore non-activation in other types of col-
lisions (side collisions, rear shunts, roll-
overs, etc.) is not a system malfunction.
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In case of front crash, an electronic con-
trol unit, when required, triggers the in-
flation of the cushion according to the
severity of the collision. The cushion im-
mediately inflates, placing itself as a pro-
tection between the body of the front oc-
cupants and the structure that could cause
injuries. Immediately after, the cushion de-
flates.
The front driver/passenger air bags and
the driver's knees air bag (for versions/
markets, where provided) are not a re-
placement of but complementary to the
use of belts, which should always be worn,
as specified by law in Europe and most non
European countries.
In case of crash, a person not wearing the
seat belt moves forward and may come in-
to contact with the cushion while it is still
inflating. Under this circumstance the pro-
tection offered by the air bag is reduced.
Front air bag may not be activated in the
following situations:
❒ front collisions against highly de-
formable objects not affecting the car
front surface (e.g. bumper collision
against guard rail, etc.);
❒ in case of wedging under other vehicles
or protective barriers (for example un-
der a truck or guard rail);
as it offers no additional protection com-
pared with the seat belts, consequently,
it would be pointless. Therefore, failure to
come into action in the above circum-
stances does not mean that the system is
not working properly.
WARNING
Do not apply stickers or oth-
er objects to the steering
wheel or to the air bag cover on the
passenger's side or on the side roof
lining. Do not put objects on the
dashboard on passenger side since
they could interfere with proper pas-
senger air bag inflation and cause in-
juries to the car's passengers.