Lancia Lybra Owner's Handbook Manual page 48

SIDE AIRBAGS
(SIDE BAG – WINDOW BAG)
Purpose of the side airbags is to in-
crease passenger protection in the
event of a side impact of medium to
high severity.
Side airbags consist of an instantly
inflatable bag:
- the side bag is housed in the front
seat backs. This solution ensures that
the bag is always in an optimal posi-
tion with respect to the passenger, re-
gardless of the seat position;
- since the window bag is a "win-
dow" system it is housed in the roof
side covering, masked with a proper
finishing that enables bag deflation
downwards. This solution has been
studied for protecting the head and
therefore to offer the best passenger
protection in the event of a side im-
pact. The "window" solution offers
the aforesaid top protection perfor-
mance through the wide deflation sur-
face and the self-supporting charac-
teristics, the same type of protection
is also offered to rear seat passengers.
In the event of a side collision the
electronic control unit processes the
signals coming from a deceleration
sensor and, if required, fires the bags.
The bag inflates instantly and acts
as a soft protective barrier between
the body of the front seat passengers
and the car door. The bag deflates im-
mediately afterwards.
In the event of side collisions at low
speed, the restraining action of the
seat belts is sufficient and the airbag
is not inflated.
The airbag, as a consequence, is not
a replacement for the use of seat belts
but rather a complement. We recom-
mend that seat belts are worn at all
times as prescribed by legislation in
Europe and most other countries
world-wide.
Side airbags are not deactivated by
front airbag switch operation, as de-
scribed in the previous paragraph and
therefore in the event of side impact,
protection is guaranteed also to any
child carried on the front passenger
seat.
IMPORTANT The front and/or side
airbags can be triggered if the car is
involved in hard impacts or collisions
in the area of the underbody, e.g.: vi-
olent impacts against steps, kerbs or
projecting objects fixed to the ground,
or if the car falls into large pot-holes
or dips in the road surface.
IMPORTANT When the airbag is
fired it emits a small amount of pow-
ders and smoke. This is not harmful
and does not indicate the beginning of
a fire. Furthermore the surface of the
inflated bag and the passenger com-
partment may be covered with pow-
dery residues. This powder may irri-
tate skin and eyes. In the event of ex-
posure, wash with mild soap and wa-
ter.
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