How Does An Airbag Restrain; What Will You See After An Airbag Inflates - Chevrolet 2006 Corvette Owner's Manual

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. The airbag supplements 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, and rear impacts,
primarily because an occupant's motion is not toward
those airbags. 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 side impact airbags.
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What Will You See After an
Airbag Inflates?
After the airbag inflates, it quickly deflates, so quickly
that some people may not even realize the airbag
inflated. Some components of the airbag module may
be hot for a short time. These components include
the steering wheel hub for the driver's frontal airbag
and the instrument panel for the passenger's frontal
airbag. For vehicles with side impact airbags, the side of
the seatback closest to the driver's and/or passenger's
door may be hot. The parts of the airbag that come
into contact with you may be warm, but not too hot to
touch. There will be some smoke and dust coming
from the vents in the deflated airbags. Airbag inflation
does not prevent the driver from seeing out of the
windshield or being able to steer the vehicle,
nor does it stop people from leaving the vehicle.