Chevrolet Captiva C140 Manual page 39

All of these injuries are caused by the force
created by the collision as the vehicle is
brought to a sudden stop. The time and
distance which a vehicle is allowed in slowing
or stopping in great part determines the
severity of a collision's effect on vehicle
occupants. For example, when a vehicle brakes
to a stop at a red light, the occupant's bodies
are forced forward. This is because both the
vehicle and its occupants are initially travelling
at the same speed. The brakes slow the
vehicle, and the occupants continue to move
forward somewhat inside the vehicle.
However, properly positioned and restrained
occupants are rarely injured when a vehicle
comes to a stop by even sudden and hard
braking. This is because even hard braking
allows a comparatively long time and distance
for the vehicle to stop. The safety belts and
the occupants' strength are generally
sufficient to safely counteract the force of a
braking stop.
In a crash, a vehicle may go from highway
speed to a full stop in a fraction of a second
and in a distance of less than one foot. This
extremely short stopping time and distance
greatly increases the force placed upon the
occupants. No person has the strength or
reflexes to counteract this force. Even
occupants properly positioned and wearing
their safety belts will find their head, upper
torso, arms, and hips thrown forward at the
speed the vehicle was travelling before
impact. In moderate to severe frontal
collisions, even occupants wearing safety belts
can sustain internal brain and organ injuries
without the occupant's head or torso hitting
any stationary objects or surfaces.
Air bags provide additional stopping time and
distance for the head and upper torsos of
front occupants in moderate to severe frontal
or near-frontal collisions. This additional time
and distance can save lives and prevent
serious injuries.
SEATS AND OCCUPANT PROTECTION SYSTEMS 1–35
HELP YOUR AIR BAGS TO PROTECT HELP YOUR AIR BAGS TO PROTECT HELP YOUR AIR BAGS TO PROTECT HELP YOUR AIR BAGS TO PROTECT HELP YOUR AIR BAGS TO PROTECT
YOU! YOU! YOU! YOU! YOU!
Besides their lifesaving benefits, the air bag
system also poses some moderate risks.
Because an air bag inflates with considerable
force, speed and suddenness, the air bag
supplemental restraint system will be safer
and more effective if the occupants are
properly positioned in the vehicle.