How Does The Air Bag System Operate; Safety Features Of Your Vehicle - Kia Soul 2020 Owner's Manual

Safety features of your vehicle

How does the air bag system oper -
ate?
• Air bags are activated (able to
inflate if necessary) only when
the ignition switch has been
turned to the ON position.
• The appropriate air bags inflate
instantly in the event of a serious
frontal collision or side collision in
order to help protect the occu -
pants from serious physical
injury.
• Generally, air bags are designed
to inflate based upon the severity
of a collision and its direction, etc.
These two factors determine
whether the sensors produce an
electronic deployment / inflation
signal.
• Air bags will inflate based upon
the severity of a collision and its
direction, etc. But Air bags will not
inflate in every crash or collision
situation.
• The front air bags will completely
inflate and deflate in an instant. It
is virtually impossible for you to
see the air bags inflate during an
accident. It is much more likely
that you will simply see the
deflated air bags hanging out of
their storage compartments after
the collision.
• In addition to inflating in serious
side collisions, side and/or curtain
air bags will inflate if the sensing
system detects a rollover.
3 42
Air bag - advanced supplemental restraint
• When a rollover is detected, side
and/or curtain air bags will remain
inflated longer to help provide
protection from ejection, espe -
cially when used in conjunction
with the seat belts.
• In order to help provide protec -
tion, the air bags must inflate
rapidly. The speed of the air bag
inflation is a consequence of
extremely short time in which to
inflate the air bag between the
occupant and the vehicle struc -
tures before the occupant
impacts those structures. This
speed of inflation reduces the risk
of serious or life-threatening inju -
ries and is thus a necessary part
of the air bag design. However, air
bag inflation can also cause inju -
ries which can include fascial
abrasions, bruises and broken
bones because the inflation speed
also causes the air bags to expand
with a great deal of force.
• There are even circumstances
under which contact with the
steering wheel or passenger air
bag can cause fatal injuries, espe -
cially if the occupant is positioned
excessively close to the steering
wheel or passenger air bag.
system