Driver's Knee Airbag System - Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Owner's Manual

The front passenger's airbag deploys at the same
time as the driver's airbag, even if the passenger
seat is not occupied, and inflates at two different
rates according to the severity of the impact.

Driver's knee airbag system

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The driver's knee airbag is located under the steer-
ing wheel. The driver's knee airbag is designed to
deploy at the same time as the driver's front airbag.
Deployment of front airbags and driv-
er's knee airbag
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The front airbags and driver's knee airbag ARE
DESIGNED TO DEPLOY when...
The front airbags and driver's knee airbag are de-
signed to deploy when the vehicle suffers a moder-
ate to severe frontal impact. A typical condition is
shown in the illustration.
1- Head-on collision with a solid wall at a
speed of approximately 25 km/h (16 mph) or
higher
2- Moderate to severe frontal impact within the
shaded area between the arrows
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Seat and seat belts
The front airbags and driver's knee airbag will de-
ploy if the severity of the impact is above the de-
signed threshold level, comparable to an approxi-
mately 25 km/h (16 mph) collision when impacting
straight into a solid wall that does not move or de-
form. If the severity of the impact is below the
above threshold level, the front airbags and driver's
knee airbag may not deploy. However, this thresh-
old speed will be considerably higher if the vehicle
strikes an object that absorbs the impact by either
deforming or moving (for example, another station-
ary vehicle, pole or a guard rail).
Because frontal collisions can easily move you out
of position, it is important to always properly wear
your seat belts. Your seat belts will help keep you
at a safe distance from the steering wheel and instru-
ment panel during the initial stages of airbag deploy-
ment. The initial stage of airbag inflation is the
most forceful, and can possibly cause serious or fa-
tal injuries. Moreover, the seat belts in your vehicle
are your primary means of protection in a collision.
The SRS airbags are designed to provide additional
protection. Therefore, for your safety and the safe-
ty of all occupants, be sure to always properly wear
your seat belts.
The front airbags and driver's knee airbag MAY
NOT DEPLOY when...
With certain types of frontal collisions, the vehi-
cle's body structure is designed to absorb the shock
to help protect the occupants from harm. (The vehi-
cle body's front area may deform significantly as it
absorbs the impact.) Under such circumstances, the
front airbags and driver's knee airbag may not de-
ploy irrespective of the deformation and damage to
the vehicle body.
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