Pontiac 2006 manual What Makes an Airbag Inflate?, How Does an Airbag Restrain?

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, airbag and related hardware are all part of the airbag modules.

Frontal airbag modules are located inside the steering wheel and the instrument panel. For vehicles with seat-mounted side impact airbags, there are also airbag modules in the side of the front seatbacks closest to the door. For vehicles with roof-mounted side impact airbags, there are also airbag modules in the ceiling of the vehicle, near the side window.

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 a frontal airbag 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 a frontal airbag. A side impact airbag would not help you in many types of collisions, including many frontal or near frontal collisions, and rear impacts, primarily because an occupant’s motion is not toward a side airbag. 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 frontal airbags, and only

in moderate to severe side collisions for side impact airbags.

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