Chevrolet Beat diesel Owner's Manual page 44

40 Seats and Restraints
How Air Bags Protect Front
Occupants?
Vehicle occupants are usually injured in
a collision because their bodies are
thrown into a stationary object, either
inside the vehicle, such as the steering
wheel, instrument panel or windshield,
or outside the vehicle, such as the
driving surface or a tree, when the
occupant is thrown from the vehicle.
Severe injuries also occur by occupants
being jolted by the forces of the crash,
even without body contact with a
stationary object or surface.
All of these injuries are caused by the
force created by the collision as the
vehicle is brought to a sudden stop. The
time and distance which a vehicle is
allowed in slowing or stopping in great
part determines the severity of a
collision's effect on vehicle occupants.
For example, when a vehicle brakes to a
stop at a red light, the occupant's bodies
are forced forward. This is because both
the vehicle and its occupants are
initially traveling at the same speed.
The brakes slow the vehicle, and the
occupants continue to move forward
somewhat inside the vehicle. However,
properly positioned and restrained
occupants are rarely injured when a
vehicle comes to a stop by even sudden
and hard braking. This is because even
hard braking allows a comparatively
long time and distance for the vehicle to
stop. The safety belts and the
occupants' strength are generally
sufficient to safely counteract the force
of a braking stop.
In a crash, a vehicle may go from
highway speed to a full stop in a
fraction of a second and in a distance of
less than one foot. This extremely short
stopping time and distance greatly
increases the force placed upon the
occupants. No person has the strength
or reflexes to counteract this force.
Even occupants properly positioned
and wearing their safety belts will find
their head, upper torso, arms, and hips
thrown forward at the speed the vehicle
was traveling before impact. In
moderate to severe frontal collisions,
even occupants wearing safety belts
can sustain internal brain and organ
injuries without the occupant's head or
torso hitting any stationary objects or
surfaces.
Air bags provide additional stopping
time and distance for the head and
upper torsos of front occupants in
moderate to severe frontal or near-
frontal collisions. This additional time
and distance can save lives and prevent
serious injuries.