FIAT Ulysse - Manual (Page 126)

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
125
– in the dashboard and with a bigger
cushion for the passenger.
The front air bag (driver and pas-
senger) has been designed to protect
the occupants in the event of head-
on crashes of medium-high severity,
by placing the cushion between the oc-
cupant and the steering wheel or dash-
board.
In case of a crash, an electronic con-
trol unit processes the signals from a
deceleration sensor and, when re-
quired, triggers the inflation of the
cushion.
The bag inflates instantly and acts as
a protective barrier between the front
seat passengers and the structures in
front of them that could cause injury.
The bags deflate immediately after-
wards.
In case of crash, a person not wear-
ing the seat belt moves forward and
may come into contact with the cush-
ion while it is still inflating. Under this
circumstance the protection offered
by the air bag is reduced. The front air
bag (driver and passenger) is therefore
not a replacement of but a comple-
mentary to the use of belts, which
should always be worn, as specified by
law in Europe and most non-European
countries.
In the case of minor head-on colli-
sions (for which the restraining action
of the seat belt is sufficient), the air bag
is not triggered.
In collisions against highly deformable
or mobile objects (such as road signs,
heaps of gravel or snow, parked vehi-
cles, etc.), in rear crashes (such as
bumps from behind by another vehi-
cle), side impacts, and in case of wedg-
ing under other vehicles or protective
barriers (for example under a truck or
guard rail), the air bag is not triggered
as it offers no additional protection
compared with the seat belts, conse-
quently, it would be pointless.
The fact that the airbag is not trig-
gered in these situations, this does not
signify a malfunction.
PASSENGER’S FRONT
AIRBAG
The passenger’s airbag was designed
and calibrated to protect a person
wearing seat belts.
When fully inflated the bag will fill
most of the space between the dash-
board and the passenger.