What Makes An Airbag Inflate; How Does An Airbag Restrain; What Will You See After An Airbag Inflates - Chevrolet Pontiac Wave 2006 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, the airbag and related
hardware are all part of the airbag modules. Frontal
airbag modules are located inside the steering wheel and
instrument panel. For seating positions with side impact
airbags, there are also airbag modules in the side of the
seatbacks closest to the door.

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.
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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 frontal airbags, and only in moderate to
severe side collisions for vehicles with a side impact
airbag.
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 right front passenger's
frontal airbag. For seating positions with side impact
airbags, the side of the seatback closest to the door may
be hot. The parts of the airbag that come into contact
with you may be warm, but not too hot to touch.