Kia Sorento 2006 Owner's Manual page 71

KNOWING YOUR VEHICLE
How does the airbag system
operate
• Airbag only operates when the igni-
tion switch is turned to ON or
START position.
• Airbags inflate instantly in the event
of serious frontal or side collision in
order to help protect the occupants
from serious physical injury.
• There is no single speed at which
the airbags will inflate.
Generally, airbags are designed to
inflate by the severity of a collision
and its direction. These two factors
determine whether the sensors
send out an electronic deploy-
ment/inflation signal.
• Airbag deployment depends on a
number of factors including vehicle
speed, angles of impact and the
density and stiffness of the vehicles
or objects which your vehicle hits in
the collision. Though, factors are
not limited to those mentioned
above.
3-62
• The front airbags will completely
inflate and deflate in an instant.
It is virtually impossible for you to
see the airbags inflate during an
accident. It is much more likely that
you will simply see the deflated
airbags hanging out of their storage
compartments after the collision.
• In order to help provide protection in
a severe collision, the airbags must
inflate rapidly. The speed of airbag
inflation has been determined by the
Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards (CMVSS) to reduce the
likelihood of serious or life-threaten-
ing injuries and is thus a mandatory
part of the airbag design.
However, airbag inflation can also
cause injuries which normally can
include facial abrasions, bruises
and broken bones, because that
speed also causes the airbags to
expand with a great deal force.
• There are even circumstances
under which contact with the
steering wheel airbag can cause
fatal injuries, especially if the
occupant is positioned exces-
sively close to the steering
wheel.
WARNING
• Driver should sit as far back
(at least 10 inches (250 mm)
away) from the steering wheel
airbag as possible to reduce
the risk of injury or death in a
collision. The front passenger
should always move their seat
as far back as possible and sit
back in their seat.
• Airbag inflates instantly in an
event of collision, passengers
may be injured by the airbag
expansion force if they are not
in proper position.
• Airbag inflation may cause
injuries which
include facial or bodily abra-
sions, injuries by the broken
glasses or burns by the explo-
sives.
normally