How does an air bag restrain? ; What will you see after an air bag inflates?; How does an air bag restrain?- Page 39

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How does an air bag 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. The air bag supplements the protection
provided by safety belts. Air bags distribute the force of
the impact more evenly over the occupant’s upper body,
stopping the occupant more gradually. But the frontal air
bags would not help you in many types of collisions,
including rollovers, rear impacts, and side impacts,
primarily because an occupant’s motion is not toward
the air bag. The side impact air bag would not help you
in many types of collisions, including frontal or near
frontal collisions, rollovers, and rear impacts, primarily
because the occupant’s motion is not toward that air bag.
Air bags should never be regarded as anything more
than a supplement to safety belts, and then only in
moderate to severe frontal or near

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frontal collisions for

the driver’s and right front passenger’s frontal air bags,
and only in moderate to severe side collisions for the
driver’s side impact air bag.

What will you see after an air bag inflates?

After an air bag inflates, it quickly deflates, so quickly that
some people may not even realize the air bag inflated.
Some components of the air bag module 

--

 the steering

wheel hub for the driver’s air bag, the instrument panel for
the right front passenger’s bag, the side of the seatback
closest to the door for the driver’s side impact air bag 

--

will be hot for a short time. The parts of the bag that come
into contact with you may be warm, but not too hot to
touch. There will be some smoke and dust coming from
the vents in the deflated air bags. Air bag inflation doesn’t
prevent the driver from seeing or being able to steer the
vehicle, nor does it stop people from leaving the vehicle.

CAUTION:

When an air bag inflates, there is dust in the air.
This dust could cause breathing problems for
people with a history of asthma or other
breathing trouble. To avoid this, everyone in the
vehicle should get out as soon as it is safe to do so.
If you have breathing problems but can’t get out
of the vehicle after an air bag inflates, then get
fresh air by opening a window or a door.