Kia Stonic, Owner'S Manual, Page: 59 / 514

(Continued)
• 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 bags are activated (able to inflate
if necessary) only when the ignition
switch is turned to the ON or START
position.
• Air bags inflate instantly in the event
of a serious frontal collision or side
collision (if equipped with a side air
bag or curtain air bag) in order to
help protect the occupants from seri‐
ous physical injury.
• In normal conditions, the airbag is de‐
signed to deploy based on certain an‐
gle and intensity of the collision.
These two factors are crucial ele‐
ments for deciding whether to trans‐
mit airbag deployment signal or start
the electrical operation or not.
• The airbag will deploy based on angle
and intensity of the collision. It will
not deploy in every crash or collision
situations.
• The front air bags will completely in‐
flate and deflate in an instant.
It is virtually impossible for you to
see the air bags inflate during an ac‐
cident.
It is much more likely that you will
simply see the deflated air bags
hanging out of their storage com‐
partments after the collision.
• In order to help provide protection in
a severe collision, the air bags must
inflate rapidly. The speed of the air
bag inflation is a consequence of ex‐
tremely short time in which a collision
occurs and the need to inflate the air
bag between the occupant and the
vehicle structures before the occu‐
pant impacts those structures.
This speed of inflation reduces the
risk of serious or life-threatening in‐
juries in a severe collision and is thus
a necessary part of the air bag de‐
sign.
However, air bag inflation can also
cause injuries which can include facial
abrasions, bruises and broken bones
because the inflation speed also cau‐
ses the air bags to expand with a
great deal of force.
• There are even circumstances under
which contact with the steering
wheel air bag can cause fatal injuries,
especially if the occupant is posi‐
tioned excessively close to the steer‐
ing wheel.
3-37
3
Safety featur
es of your v
ehicle