How Does an Airbag Restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or near frontal collisions, even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel or the instrument panel. In moderate to severe side collisions, even belted occupants can contact the inside of the vehicle.
Airbags supplement the protection provided by safety belts. Frontal airbags distribute the force of the impact more evenly over the occupant's upper body, stopping the occupant more gradually.
Seat-mounted side impact and roof-rail airbags distribute the force of the impact more evenly over the occupant's upper body.
But airbags would not help in many types of collisions, primarily because the occupant's motion is not toward those airbags. See When Should an Airbag Inflate? for more information.
Airbags should never be regarded as anything more than a supplement to safety belts.
See also:
Brake System Warning Light
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not working, the remaining circuit can still work to stop the vehicle. For normal
braking performance, both circuits ...
Collision Parts
Genuine GM Collision parts are new parts made with the same materials and construction
methods as the parts with which the vehicle was originally built. Genuine GM Collision
parts are the best cho ...
Starting the Vehicle
1. Aim the RKE transmitter at the vehicle. 2. Press and release
. 3. Immediately after completing Step
2, press and hold until the turn signal
lamps flash, or for about two seconds if the vehicl ...