What Makes An Airbag Inflate; How Does An Airbag Restrain - Chevrolet 2007 Colorado Owner's Manual

What Makes an Airbag Inflate?
In an impact of sufficient severity, the airbag
sensing system detects that the vehicle is
in a crash. The sensing system triggers a
release of gas from the inflator, which inflates
the airbag. The inflator, airbag, and related
hardware are all part of the airbag modules
inside the steering wheel and in the instrument
panel in front of the right front passenger.
For vehicles with roof-mounted side impact
airbags, there are also airbag modules in the
ceiling of the vehicle, near the side windows.

How Does an Airbag Restrain?

In moderate to severe frontal or near frontal
collisions, even belted occupants can contact
the steering wheel or the instrument panel.
In moderate to severe side collisions, even belted
occupants can contact the inside of the vehicle.
Airbags supplement the protection provided
by safety belts. Airbags distribute the force of the
impact more evenly over the occupant's upper
body, stopping the occupant more gradually.
But the frontal airbags would not help you in
many types of collisions, including rollovers,
rear impacts, and many side impacts, primarily
because an occupant's motion is not toward
the airbag. Side impact airbags would not
help you in many types of collisions, including
many frontal or near frontal collisions, rollovers,
and rear impacts.
Airbags should never be regarded as anything
more than a supplement to safety belts, and
then only in moderate to severe frontal or
near-frontal collisions for the driver's and
right front passenger's frontal airbags, and
only in moderate to severe side collisions for
vehicles with side impact airbags.
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