Dodge 2005 Dakota, Owner'S Manual

Page: 43 / 392

Along with the seat belts, front airbags work with the
instrument panel knee bolsters to provide improved
protection for the driver and front passenger. Window
bags also work with seat belts to improve occupant
protection.
The seat belts are designed to protect you in many types
of collisions. The front airbags deploy in moderate to
severe frontal collisions.
NOTE:
The passenger front airbag may not deploy even
when the driver front airbag has if the Occupant Classi-
fication System (refer to
⬙
Occupant Classification System
⬙
in this section) has determined the passenger seat is
empty or is occupied by someone that is classified in the
⬙
small child
⬙
category.
If your vehicle is so equipped, the window bag on the
crash side of the vehicle is triggered in moderate to
severe side collisions. But even in collisions where the
airbags work, you need the seat belts to keep you in the
right position for the airbags to protect you properly.
Here are some simple steps you can follow to minimize
the risk of harm from a deploying airbag.
1. Children 12 years and under should always ride
buckled up in a rear seat in an appropriate child restraint.
Infants in rear-facing child restraints should
NEVER
ride
in the front seat of a vehicle with a passenger front airbag.
An airbag deployment can cause severe injury or death to
infants in that position.
If a child from 1 to 12 years old must ride in the front
passenger seat because the vehicle is crowded, move the
seat as far back as possible, and use the proper child
restraint. See
⬙
Child Restraint
⬙
in this section.
You should read the instructions provided with your
child restraint to make sure that you are using it properly.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 43
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