Airbag System - Chevrolet Sail Diesel Owner's Manual

40 Seats and Restraints

AIRBAG SYSTEM*

Airbags are designed to supplement the
protection provided by safety belts.
Even though today's airbags are also
designed to help reduce the risk of
injury from the force of an inflating
bag, all airbags must inflate in milli-
seconds. It will then deflate so quickly
that people are usually unaware of their
existence.
All of the airbags in the vehicle will
have the word AIRBAG embossed on
the trim or on an attached label near the
deployment opening.
For frontal airbags, the word AIRBAG
will appear on the center of the steering
wheel for the driver and on the
instrument panel for the outboard front
passenger.
When the ignition switch is turned ON,
the airbag warning light will illuminate
briefly. This shows that the light bulb
and airbag system are functioning
properly.
See Warning Light for Airbag on page
59.
Warning
The airbag system may be triggered
abruptly by improper operation.
Warning
Because airbags inflate with great
force and faster than the blink of an
eye, anyone who is up against, or
very close to any airbag when it
inflates can be seriously injured or
killed. Do not sit unnecessarily close
to any airbag, as you would be if
siting on the edge of the seat or
leaning forward. Safety belts help
keep you in position before and
during a crash. Always wear a safety
belt, even with airbags. The driver
should sit as far back as possible
while still maintaining control of the
vehicle.
Warning
You can be severely injured or killed
in a crash if you are not wearing your
safety belt, even with airbags.
Airbags are designed to work with
safety belts, not replace them. Also,
airbags are not designed to inflate in
every crash. In some crashes safety
belts are the only restraint. See
When Should an Airbag Inflate ? on
page 44.
Wearing your safety belt during a
crash helps reduce the chance of
hitting things inside the vehicle or
being ejected from it. Airbags are
"supplemental restraints" to the
safety belts. Everyone in the vehicle
should wear a safety belt properly,
whether or not there is an airbag for
that person.