FIAT 500 - Manual (Page 99)

AIR BAG
The car is provided with front airbags for the driver
and the passenger, driver's knee bag (for versions/
markets, where provided), front side bags (for
versions/markets, where provided) and window bags.
FRONT AIR BAGS
The front driver/passenger airbags and the driver's
knee bag (for versions/markets, where provided)
protect the front seat occupants in the event of
frontal impacts of medium/high severity, by placing
the bag between the occupant and the steering
wheel or dashboard.
Therefore non-activation in other types of collisions
(side collisions, rear shunts, roll-overs, etc.) is not
a system malfunction.
An electronic control unit causes the bag to inflate in
the event of a head-on crash.
The bag will inflate instantaneously placing itself
between the front occupants body and the
structures which could cause injury. It will deflate
immediately afterwards.
Front airbags are not a replacement of but
complementary to the seat belts, which you are
recommended to always wear, as specified by law in
Europe and most non-European countries.
In the event of an impact, someone not wearing a
seat belt will move forward and come into contact
with the bag which is still in the opening stage.
The protection offered by the bag is compromised in
these circumstances.
Front airbags may not be activated in the following
situations:
❒ front collisions against highly deformable objects
not affecting the front surface of the car (e.g.
bumper collision against guard rail, etc.);
❒ car wedging under other vehicles or protective
barriers (e.g. trucks or guard rails);
they may not provide any additional protection
compared with seat belts, so their activation would
be inappropriate. Lack of deployment in such cases is
consequently not the sign of a fault.
WARNING
Do not apply stickers or other objects
on the steering wheel, on the dashboard
in the passenger side airbag area, on side
upholstery on roof and on the seats. Never put
objects (e.g. mobile phones) on the passenger's
side dashboard since they could interfere with
correct inflation of the air bag and also cause
serious injury to the passengers.
The front air bags (driver, passenger, driver's knee
bags) are designed and calibrated to protect front
seat passengers wearing seat belts.
96
GETTINGTO KNOW
YOURCAR
SAFETY
STARTING AND
DRIVING
WARNING LIGHTS
AND MESSAGES
IN AN EMERGENCY
SERVICING AND
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
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