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128
Airbag
syst em
How knee airbags work
The risk of injury to the leg area can be re-
duced by fully inflated knee airbags.
Fig. 117 Inflated airbags protect ing in a frontal colli-
sion
The knee airbag system has been designed so
that the a irbags for the driver and front pas-
senger deploy in certain but not all frontal
collis ions . .
If the front airbags deploy, the knee airbags
also deploy in frontal collisions when the de-
ployment threshold stored in the control unit
is met .
When the system deploys, the airbags fill
with a propellant gas, and inflate between the
lower part of the instrument panel and the
driver and the lower part of the instrument
panel and the front passenger
9
page 120,
fig. 114.
Although they a re not a soft pillow, they can
"cush ion " the impact and in this way they can
he lp 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
the airbags have deployed . The airbags also
inflate with a great deal of force and it is im-
po rtan t for occupant safety that not hing
should be in their way when they deploy.
Fully inflated airbags in combination with
properly worn safety bel t s slow down and lim-
it the occupant's forwa rd movement and help
to reduce the risk of injury.
Important safety instructions on the
knee airbag system
Airbags are only supplemental restraints . Al-
ways wear safety belts correctly and ride in a
proper seating position.
The re is a lot that you and your passengers
must know and do to he lp t he sa fety belts and
airbags to prov ide supplemen t a l protect ion.
A
WARNING
~
An inflat ing knee a irbag can cause serio us
injury. Wearing safety belts incorrectly and
improper seating positions increase the
risk of ser ious persona l injury and death
whenever a vehicle is being used.
- The knee airbag system cannot protect
you properly if you a re seated too close
to any of the airbag locations. When ad-
justing their seat pos itions, it is impor-
tant that both the driver and the front
passenger keep the ir upper bod ies and
knees at the following m inimum safe
d istances:
- 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 injury 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 a irbag de-
ploy.
- Always make s ure that the knee airbag
can inf late without inte rfe rence. Objects
between you and the airbag can increase
the risk of injury in an accident by inter -
fering w ith the way the airbag deploys or
by being pushed into you as the airbag
deploys.
- Never let anybody, espec ia lly children
o r anima ls ride in the footwell in front
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