Kia Optima 2012 User Manual download pdf (Page 62)

341

Safety features of your vehicle

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

serious frontal or side collision (if

equipped with side impact air bag or

curtain air bag) in order to help protect

the occupants from serious physical

injury.

• There is no single speed at which the

air bags will inflate.

Generally, air bags are designed to

inflate based upon the severity of a col-

lision and its direction. These two fac-

tors determine whether the sensors

produce an electronic deployment/

inflation signal.

• Air bag deployment depends on a

number of complex factors including

vehicle speed, angles of impact and

the density and stiffness of the vehi-

cles or objects which your vehicle hits

in the collision. Though, factors are not

limited to those mentioned above.

• The front air bags will completely

inflate and deflate in an instant.

It is virtually impossible for you to see

the air bags inflate during an accident.

It is much more likely that you will sim-

ply see the deflated air bags hanging

out of their storage compartments after

the collision.

• In order to help provide protection in a

severe collision, the air bags must

inflate rapidly. The speed of air bag

inflation is a consequence of extremely

short time in which a collision occurs

and the need to get the air bag

between the occupant and the vehicle

structures before the occupant impacts

those structures. This speed of inflation

reduces the risk of serious or life-

threatening injuries in a severe collision

and is thus a necessary part of air bag

design.

However, air bag inflation can also

cause injuries which can include facial

abrasions, bruises and broken bones

because the inflation speed also caus-

es the air bags to expand with a great

deal of force.

• There are even circumstances

under which contact with the steer-

ing wheel air bag can cause fatal

injuries, especially if the occupant

is positioned excessively close to

the steering wheel.

WARNING

• To avoid severe personal injury

or death caused by deploying air

bags in a collision, the driver

should sit as far back from the

steering wheel air bag as possi-

ble (at least 250 mm (10 inches)

away). The front passenger

should always move their seat as

far back as possible and sit back

in their seat.

• Air bags inflate instantly in an

event of a collision, and passen-

gers may be injured by the air bag

expansion force if they are not in

a proper position.

• Air bag inflation may cause

injuries which normally include

facial or bodily abrasions,

injuries from broken glasses or

burns by the air bag inflation

gasses.

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