Skoda Superb 2004 Owner's Manual page 151

150 Airbag system
The side airbags are housed in the upholstery of the backrests of the front
⇒ page 149, fig.
seats 131.
The side airbag system in combination with the three-point seat belts,
offers additional protection for the upper area of the body (chest, stomach
and pelvis) of the occupants of the car in the event of a side collision of
major severity ⇒
in "Important safety information on the side airbag"
on page 151.
Apart from their normal protective function, a further task of the seat belts
is to also hold the driver and front passenger in a correct seated position
in the event of a side collision so as to enable the side airbags to offer the
maximum protection.
You should therefore always fasten ⇒ page 138 the seat belts, not only
because this is required by law, but also for safety reasons and for your
own protection.
Each time the side airbags are deployed, the head airbag* on the relevant
side is automatically deployed at the same time in order to provide the
occupant with enhanced protection ⇒ page 152.
Function of the side airbags
Risk of injury to the upper part of the body is reduced by
fully inflated side airbags.
In case of violent side collision the side airbag on the side of the vehicle
on which the collision takes place, is also deployed
In certain accident situations both the front airbags as well as the head
and side airbags may be deployed together.
If an airbag is deployed, the airbag is filled with propellant gas. The
airbags inflate in fractions of a second and at a high speed in order to be
able to offer that additional protection in the event of an accident.
A fine dust is produced when airbag inflated. This is perfectly normal and
is not an indication of a fire in the vehicle.
The load of the occupants is cushioned when plunging into the fully
inflated airbag and the risk of injury to the entire upper body (chest,
stomach and pelvis) is reduced on the side facing the door.
Fig. 132 Inflated side
airbag
⇒ fig.
132.