Hyundai tucson 2012 Owner's Manual page 57

How does the air bag system
operate
• Air bags are activated (able to inflate if
necessary) only when the ignition switch
is turned to the ON or START position.
• The appropriate air bags inflate
instantly in the event of a serious
frontal collision or side collision in
order to help protect the occupants
from serious physical injury.
• There is no single speed at which the
air bags will inflate.
Generally, air bags are designed to
inflate based upon the severity of a col-
lision and its direction. These two fac-
tors determine whether the sensors
produce an electronic deployment/
inflation signal.
• Air bag deployment depends on a
number of factors including vehicle
speed, angles of impact and the densi-
ty and stiffness of the vehicles or
objects which your vehicle hits in the
collision. The determining factors are
not limited to those mentioned above.
• The front air bags will completely inflate
and deflate in an instant.
It is virtually impossible for you to see
the air bags inflate during an accident.
It is much more likely that you will sim-
ply see the deflated air bags hanging
out of their storage compartments after
the collision.
• In addition to inflating in serious side
collisions, side and/or curtain airbags
will inflate if the sensing system detects
a rollover.
• When a rollover is detected, side and/or
curtain airbags will remain inflated
longer to help provide protection from
ejection, especially when used in con-
junction with the seat belts.
• In order to help provide protection, the
air bags must inflate rapidly. The speed
of the air bag inflation is a consequence
of extremely short time in which to
inflate the air bag between the occupant
and the vehicle structures before the
occupant impacts those structures. This
speed of inflation reduces the risk of
serious or life-threatening injuries and is
thus a necessary part of the air bag
design. However, air bag inflation can
also cause injuries which can include
facial abrasions, bruises and broken
bones because the inflation speed also
causes the air bags to expand with a
great deal of force.
• There are even circumstances under
which contact with the air bag can
cause fatal injuries, especially if the
occupant is positioned excessively
close to the air bag.
Safety features of your vehicle
WARNING
• To avoid severe personal injury
or death caused by deploying air
bags in a collision, the driver
should sit as far back from the
steering wheel air bag as possi-
ble (at least 10 inches (250 mm)
away). The front passengers
should always move their seats
as far back as possible and sit
back in their seat.
• Air bags inflate instantly in the
event of collision, and passen-
gers may be injured by the air bag
expansion force if they are not in
proper position.
• Air bag inflation may cause
injuries including facial or bodily
abrasions, injuries from broken
glasses or burns.
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