What Makes An Airbag Inflate; How Does An Airbag Restrain - Pontiac Montana SV6 2007 Owner's Manual

In any particular crash, no one can say whether an
airbag should have inflated simply because of the
damage to a vehicle or because of what the repair
costs were. For frontal airbags, inflation is
determined by what the vehicle hits, the angle of
the impact, and how quickly the vehicle slows
down. For side impact airbags, inflation is
determined by the location and severity of
the impact.
What Makes an Airbag Inflate?
In an impact of sufficient severity, the airbag
sensing system detects that the vehicle is in a
crash. The sensing system triggers a release of gas
from the inflator, which inflates the airbag. The
inflator, the airbag and related hardware are all part
of the airbag modules. Frontal airbag modules are
located inside the steering wheel and instrument
panel. For seating positions with side impact
airbags, there are also airbag modules in the
side of the seatbacks closest to the door.

How Does an Airbag Restrain?

In moderate to severe frontal or near frontal
collisions, even belted occupants can contact the
steering wheel or the instrument panel. In moderate
to severe side collisions, even belted occupants
can contact the inside of the vehicle. Airbags
supplement the protection provided by safety belts.
Airbags distribute the force of the impact more
evenly over the occupant's upper body, stopping
the occupant more gradually. But the frontal airbags
would not help you in many types of collisions,
including rollovers, rear impacts, and many side
impacts, primarily because an occupant's motion is
not toward the airbag. Side impact airbags would
not help you in many types of collisions, including
many frontal or near frontal collisions, rollovers,
and rear impacts.
Airbags should never be regarded as anything
more than a supplement to safety belts, and then
only in moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal
collisions for the driver's and right front
passenger's frontal airbags, and only in moderate
to severe side collisions for vehicles with side
impact airbags.
89