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154
Airb a g sys t e m
The knee airbag system has been designed so
that the airbags for the driver and front pas-
senger dep loy in certain but not all frontal
collisions.
If the front air bags deploy, the knee airbags
a lso d eploy in frontal collisions when the de -
ployment threshold stored in the control unit
is met.
When t he system dep loys, the airbags fill
with a prope llant gas, and inflate between the
lower part of the instrument panel and t he
driver and the lower part of the instrument
panel and the front passenger
q
page 146,
fig. 154.
Although they are not a soft pillow, they can
cushion the impact and in this way they can
help to reduce the risk of injury to the lower
extremities .
All of this takes place in the blink of an eye, so
fast that many people don't even realize that
the airbags have deployed. The a irbags also
inflate wit h a great deal of force and it is im-
po rtant for occupant safety that not hing
should be in their way when they dep loy.
Fully inflated airbags in combination with
properly wor n safety belts slow down and lim-
it the occupant's forwa rd moveme nt and help
to reduce the risk of injury .
Important safety instructions on the
knee airbag system
Applies to vehicles: wit h knee air bags
Airbags are only supplemental restraints. Al-
ways wear safety belts correctly and ride in a
proper seating position .
There is a lot that you and your passenge rs
must know and do to help the safety be lts and
air bags t o provide supp lemental protection .
&
WARNING
An inflating knee airbag can cause ser ious
injury. Wearing safety belts incorrectly and
improper seating positions increase the
risk of serious personal injury and death
whenever a veh icle is being used.
- The knee a irbag system cannot protect
you proper ly if you a re seated too close
to any of the airbag locat ions. When ad-
justing their seat pos itions, it is impor-
tant that both the driver and the front
passenger keep the ir upper bod ies and
knees at the following m inimum safe
distances:
- at least 10 inches (25 cm) between the
chest and the steering wheel/instru-
ment panel.
- at least 4 inches (10 cm) between the
knees and the lower part of the instru-
ment panel.
- The risk of personal injury increases if
you lean forward or to the s ide, or if the
seat is improperly positioned and you a re
not wearing yo ur safety belt . The risk in-
creases even more should the a irbag de-
ploy.
- Always ma ke sure that th e knee airbag
can inf late without inte rfe rence. Objects
between you and the airbag can increa se
the risk of injury in an accident by inte r-
fering with the way the a irbag deploys or
by being pushed into you as the air bag
deploys.
- Never let anybody, espec ia lly children
o r anima ls ride in the footwell in front
of the passenge r seat. If the airbag de-
ploys, th is can resul t in serious o r fa tal
injur ies.
- Never carry objects of any kind in the
footwell a rea in front of the dr iver's or
passenger 's sea t. Bulky objects (shop -
ping bags, fo r example) can inte rfere
with or prevent proper deployment of
the a irbag. Small objects can be
thrown thro ugh the veh icle if the air-
bag deploys and injure you or your pas-
sengers .
- Make sure there are no cracks, deep
scratches or other damage in the area of
the instrument panel where the knee air-
bags are located.
- If children are incorrectly seated, their
risk of injury increases in a collision
q
page 158, Child Safety.
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