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.
Rollover capable roof-rail airbags are designed to help contain the head and chest of occupants in the outboard seating positions in the first and second rows. The rollover capable roof-rail airbags are designed to help reduce the risk of full or partial ejection in rollover events, although no system can prevent all such ejections.
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? on page 3‑27 for more information.
Airbags should never be regarded as anything more than a supplement to safety belts.
See also:
Vehicle Data Recording and Privacy
This GM vehicle has a number of sophisticated computers that record information about the vehicle’s performance and how it is driven.
For example, the vehicle uses computer modules to monitor and c ...
Charging System Light
The charging system light comes on briefly when the ignition is turned on, but
the engine is not running, as a check to show the light is working. The light turns
off when the engine is started. ...
Easy Exit Driver Seat
This feature can move the seat rearward to allow extra room to exit the vehicle.
: Press to recall the easy exit seat position. The vehicle must be in P (Park).
See Memory Seats on page 3‑7 a ...