PEUGEOT 407 2009, Manual

Page: 106 / 250

7
SAFETY
89
AIR BAGS
The air bags have been designed to
maximise the safety of the occupants
(with the exception of the rear centre
passenger) in the event of violent col-
lisions. They supplement the action of
the force-limiting seat belts.
In this case, the electronic detectors
record and analyse the front and side
impacts suffered in the impact detection
zones:
-
in the event of a serious impact, the
air bags are deployed instantane-
ously and protect the occupants of
the vehicle (with the exception of the
rear centre passenger); immediately
after the impact, the air bags defl ate
rapidly so that they do not hinder
the visibility of the occupants or their
possible exit from the vehicle,
- in the event of a minor impact or
rear impact and in certain roll-over
conditions, the air bags will not be
deployed; the seat belt alone is
suffi cient to provide maximum pro-
tection in these situations.
Front air bags
The front air bags protect the driver
and front passenger in the event of a
serious front impact in order to limit the
risks of injury to the head and chest.
They are folded in the centre of the
steering wheel for the driver and in the
fascia for the front passenger.
Impact detection zones
A. Front impact zone.
B. Side impact zone.
The deployment of one or
more air bags is accompanied
by a slight discharge of harm-
less smoke and a noise, due
to the activation of the pyrotechnic
cartridge incorporated in the system.
This smoke is not harmful, but sensi-
tive individuals may experience some
irritation.
The noise of the detonation may result
in a slight loss of hearing for a short
time.
Activation
They are deployed simultaneously, ex-
cept in cases where the passenger's
front air bag is disarmed, in the event
of a serious front impact applied to all
or part of the front impact zone
A , in the
longitudinal centreline of the vehicle
on a horizontal plane directed from the
front to the rear of the vehicle.
The front air bag infl ates between the
front occupant of the vehicle and the
fascia to cushion his forward movement.
The air bags do not operate
when the ignition is off.
This equipment only operates
once. If a second impact occurs
(during the same or a subsequent
accident), the air bag will not operate.