Lotus 2005 Elise Owner's Handbook Manual page 24

AIRBAG DEFLATED
AFTER DEPLOYMENT
the primary crash protection to the occupants, especially in
collisions below the actuation threshold of the airbag system,
and during types of accident which do not cause airbag deploy-
ment. Therefore, both driver and passenger must always wear
seat belts (in most states, and all Canadian provinces, the law
requires the use of seat belts). See the earlier pages on 'Seat
Belts'.
WARNING:
• You can be killed or seriously injured in a crash if you
aren't wearing your seat belt - even with airbags. Wearing
your seat belt during a crash helps reduce your chance
of hitting things inside the car or being ejected from it.
Airbags are designed to work with seat belts, but don't
replace them. Airbags are designed to deploy only in
moderate to severe frontal and near frontal crashes.
They aren't designed to inflate at all in rollover, rear or
low-speed frontal crashes, or in many types of side im-
pacts. Both driver and passenger should wear a seat belt
properly to minimise the risk of severe injury or death in
the event of a crash.
• Airbags inflate with great force, in a fraction of a second.
If you're too close to an inflating airbag, as you would
be if you were leaning forward, you could be killed or
seriously injured. Seat belts help keep you in the correct
position before and during a crash. Always wear your seat
22
oh_croft_InD.indd 22
w53b
20/05/2004 07:58:44