Kia Niro Hybrid, Owner'S Manual, Page: 118 / 646

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• Keep the SRS parts and wirings
away from water or any liquid. If
the SRS components are inopera‐
tive due to exposure to water or
liquids, it may cause fire or severe
injury.
How does the air bag system
operate
• Air baþs are activated (able to inýlate
iý necessary) only when the iþnition
switch is turned to the ON or START
position.
• Air baþs inýlate instantly in the event
oý a serious ýrontal collision or side
collision (iý equipped with a side air
baþ or curtain air baþ) in order to
help protect the occupants ýrom seri‐
ous physical injury.
• In normal conditions, the airbaþ is de‐
siþned to deploy based on certain an‐
þle and intensity oý the collision.
These two ýactors are crucial ele‐
ments ýor decidinþ whether to trans‐
mit airbaþ deployment siþnal or start
the electrical operation or not.
• The airbaþ will deploy based on anþle
and intensity oý the collision. It will
not deploy in every crash or collision
situations.
• The ýront air baþs will completely in‐
ýlate and deýlate in an instant.
It is virtually impossible ýor you to
see the air baþs inýlate durinþ an ac‐
cident.
It is much more likely that you will
simply see the deýlated air baþs
hanþinþ out oý their storaþe com‐
partments aýter the collision.
• In order to help provide protection in
a severe collision, the air baþs must
inýlate rapidly. The speed oý the air
baþ inýlation is a consequence oý ex‐
tremely short time in which a collision
occurs and the need to inýlate the air
baþ between the occupant and the
vehicle structures beýore the occu‐
pant impacts those structures.
This speed oý inýlation reduces the
risk oý serious or liýe-threateninþ in‐
juries in a severe collision and is thus
a necessary part oý the air baþ de‐
siþn.
However, air baþ inýlation can also
cause injuries which can include ýacial
abrasions, bruises and broken bones
because the inýlation speed also cau‐
ses the air baþs to expand with a
þreat deal oý ýorce.
• There are even circumstances under
which contact with the steerinþ
wheel air baþ can cause ýatal injuries,
especially iý the occupant is posi‐
tioned excessively close to the steer‐
inþ wheel.
Saýety ýeatures oý your vehicle
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