How Do The Air Bag Supplemental Restraints Work?; Important Supplemental Restraint System Precautions - Mercury Sable 2001 Owner's Manual

The air bag supplemental restraint system is designed to work in
conjunction with the safety belts to help protect the driver and front
outboard passenger from certain upper body injuries. The term
"supplemental restraint" means the air bags are intended as a
supplement to the safety belts. Air bags alone cannot protect as well as
air bags plus safety belts in impacts for which the air bags are designed
to deploy, and air bags do not offer any protection in crashes for which
they do not deploy.

HOW DO THE AIR BAG SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINTS WORK?

The air bag supplemental restraint system consists of:
• driver and passenger dual stage air bag modules (which include the
inflators and air bags).
• side air bags (if equipped). Refer to Side air bag system later in this
chapter.
• one or more impact and safing sensors.
• the same indicator light, RCM (restraints control module) and
diagnostic unit used for the Personal safety system.
The air bag supplemental restraints are an intergral part of the Personal
Safety System. They are designed to be deployed in cases where the
Personal Safety System has determined the occupant conditions and
crash severity are appropriate to activate these devices. Refer to the
Personal Safety System section in this chapter.

Important supplemental restraint system precautions

Air bags DO NOT inflate slowly or
gently and the risk of injury from a
deploying air bag is greatest close to
the trim covering the air bag
module.
Seating and safety restraints
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