How Does The Air Bag System Operate - Kia Sportage Owner's Manual

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.
• Air bags inflate instantly in the event of
a serious frontal collision or side colli-
sion (if equipped with a side air bag or
curtain air bag) in order to help protect
the occupants from serious physical
injury.
✽ ✽ NOTICE - i
f equipped with
rollover sensor
Also, the air bags inflate instantly in the
event of a rollover (if equipped with a
side airbag or curtain air bag) in order
to help protect the occupants from seri-
ous 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 num-
ber of factors including vehicle speed,
angles of impact and the density 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 simply
see the deflated air bags hanging out of
their storage compartments after the col-
lision.
• In order to help provide protection in a
severe collision, the air bags must inflate
rapidly. The speed of the air bag inflation
is a consequence of extremely short time
in which a collision occurs and the need
to inflate the air bag between the occu-
pant and the vehicle structures before
the occupant impacts those structures.
This speed of inflation reduces the risk of
serious or life-threatening injuries in a
severe collision 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.
Safety features of your vehicle
• There are even circumstances
under which contact with the steer-
ing wheel air bag can cause fatal
injuries, especially if the occupant
is positioned excessively close to
the steering wheel.
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 250 mm (10 inches)
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 a collision, and passen-
gers may be injured by the air bag
expansion force if they are not in
a proper position.
• Air bag inflation may cause
injuries including facial or bodily
abrasions, injuries from broken
glasses or burns.
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