Airbag system
Side airbags
Description of side airbags
Applies to vehicles: with side airbags
The airbag system is not a substitute for the seat
belts.
Fig. 200
Location of side airbag in driver's seat
The side airbags are located in the backrest pad
ding of the front seats¢
Fig. 200.
The locations
of the airbags are marked with the word "AIR
BAG".
In conjunction with the seat belts, the side air
bags give the occupants additional protection for
the whole upper part of the body (i.e. the chest,
stomach and pelvis) in the event of a severe side
collision
¢
&.
in Important safety notes on the
side airbag system on page 214.
In a side collision the side airbags reduce the risk
of injury to the areas of the body facing the im
pact.
How the side airbags work
Applies to vehicles: with side airbags
When fully inflated, the side airbags reduce the
risk of injuries to the upper part of the body.
Fig. 201
Side airbag in inflated condition
214
In certain types of side collision, the side airbag
is triggered on the impact side of the vehicle
¢
Fig. 201.
Further airbag systems may also be
triggered, depending on the circumstances.
When the system is triggered, the airbag is filled
with propellant gas.
In order to provide the desired extra protection in
an accident, the airbags have to inflate extremely
rapidly (within fractions of a second). The airbag
releases a fine dust when it inflates. This is quite
normal and does not mean there is a fire in the
vehicle.
When fully deployed, the airbags cushion the im
pact for the occupants and help to reduce the risk
of injury to the whole upper part of the body (i.e.
the chest, stomach and pelvis) on the side facing
the door.
Important safety notes on the side airbag
system
Applies to vehicles: with side airbags
There are a number of safety points concerning
the airbag system which you should remember.
This will help to reduce the risk of injury in an ac
cident.
A
WARNING
- If you do not wear a seat belt, if you lean
forward, or are not seated correctly while
the vehicle is in motion, you are at greater
risk of injury should the side airbags be trig
gered in an accident.
- If children are not seated correctly, they are
at greater risk of injury in an accident. This
is particularly the case if the child is travel
ling on the front passenger's seat and the
airbag system is triggered in an accident.
This could result in serious or potentially fa
tal injury
¢page 195, Child seats.
- It is also important not to attach any acces
sories (such as cup holders) to the doors.
This would impair the protection offered by
the side airbags.
- The sensors for the airbags are located in
the front doors. You must therefore not
make any modifications to the doors or door
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