How Your Side Airbags Work - Honda Civic Owner's Manual

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Additional Information About Your Airbags

How Your Side Airbags Work

If you ever have a moderate to
severe side impact, sensors will
detect rapid acceleration and signal
the control unit to instantly inflate
either the driver's or the passenger's
side airbag and activate the seat belt
tensioner on the affected side.
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Only one airbag will deploy during a
side impact. If the impact is on the
passenger's side, the passenger's
side airbag will deploy even if there
is no passenger.
To get the best protection from the
side airbags, front seat occupants
should wear their seat belts and sit
upright and well back in their seats.
2008 Civic Hybrid
Side Airbag Cutoff System
Your vehicle has a side airbag cutoff
system designed primarily to protect
a child riding in the front passenger's
seat.
Although Honda does not encourage
children to ride in front, if position
sensors detect a child has leaned into
the side airbag's deployment path,
the airbag will shut off.
The side airbag may also shut off if a
short adult leans sideways, or a
larger adult slouches and leans
sideways into the airbag's
deployment path.
Objects placed on the front
passenger seat can also cause the
side airbag to be shut off.