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The knee airbag system has been designed so
that the airbags for the driver and front pas-
senger dep loy in certain but not all frontal
collisions .
If the front airbags deploy, the knee airbags
also deploy in fronta l collisions when the de-
ployment threshold stored in the control unit
is met .
When the system dep loys, the airbags fill
with a prope llant gas, and inflate between the
lower part of the instrument panel and the
driver and the lower part of the instrument
panel and the fron t passenger
c>
page 151,
fig. 142.
Although they are not a soft pillow, they can
cushion the impact and in this way they can
help to reduce the risk of injury to the lower
extremities .
All of this takes place in the blink of an eye, so
fast that many people don't even realize that
t he airbags have deployed . The airbags also
inflate wit h a great deal of force and it is im-
portant for occupant safety that not hing
should be in the ir way when they dep loy.
Fully inflat ed airbags in comb ination with
properly worn safety belts slow down and lim-
it the occupant's forward movement and help
to reduce the risk of injury.
Important safety instructions on the
knee airbag system
Applies to vehicles: with knee a irbags
Airbags are only supplemental restraints. Al-
ways wear safety belts correctly and ride in a
proper seating position .
There is a lot that you and your passenge rs
must know and do to help the safety be lts and
airbags to provide supp lemen t al protection .
_.6
WARNING
An inflating knee airbag can cause ser ious
injury. Wearing safety belts incorrectly and
improper seating positions increase the
risk of serious personal injury and death
whenever a vehicle is being used.
A irbag sys tem
159
- The knee airbag system cannot protect
you proper ly if you a re seated too close
to any of the airbag locat ions. When ad-
justing their seat positions, it is impor-
tant that both the driver and the front
passenger keep the ir upper bodies and
knees at the following minimum safe
distances :
- at least 10 inches (25 cm) between the
chest and the steering wheel/instru-
ment panel.
- at least 4 inches (10 cm) between the
knees and the lower part of the instru-
ment panel.
- The risk of personal inju ry increases if
you lean forward or to the side, or if the
seat is improperly positioned and you are
not wearing your safety belt . The risk in-
creases even more should the airbag de-
ploy.
- Always ma ke sure that the knee airbag
can inflate without inte rference. Objects
between you and the airbag can increase
the risk of injury in an accident by inte r-
fering with the way the airbag deploys or
by being pushed into you as the airbag
deploys.
- Never let anybody, especia lly children
or anima ls ride in the footwell in front
of the passenge r seat. If the airbag de-
ploys, th is can result in serious or fat al
injuries.
- Never carry objects of any kind in the
footwe ll area in front of the driver's or
passenger 's sea t. Bulky objects (shop-
ping bags , fo r example) can interfere
with or prevent proper deployment of
the airbag. Small objects can be
thrown through the vehicle if the air-
bag deploys and injure you or your pas-
sengers .
- Make sure there are no cracks, deep
scratches or other damage in the area of
the instrument panel where the knee air-
bags are located.
- If children are incorrectly seated, t heir
risk of injury increases in a collision
c>
page 166, Child Safety .
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