Operation of the Side Airbags

Operation of the Side Airbags

In a side impact (medium or severe), signals from the impact sensors are sent to the electronic control unit, which causes the driver or front passenger side airbag, as well as the seat belt pretensioner of the seat located on the impact side, to deploy almost instantly.

It should be emphasized that in a side impact only one airbag deploys. If the impact occurs on the front passenger side, the front passenger side airbag deploys even if the passenger seat is unoccupied.

For the best protection from the side airbag in a side impact, the driver and front passenger must sit in the correct position and wear their seat belts.

If the front passenger leans sideways so that their head is within the area of the side airbag, they may receive a strong impact from the airbag when it deploys, which can result in serious injury. The force of airbag deployment is great enough to kill a child or cause serious injury. For more details on the hazards posed by airbags, see pages 38 and 60.