Both frontal and side impact air bags inflate
with great force, faster than the
blink
of an eye.
If you’re too close to an inflating air bag, as you
would be if you were leaning forward,
it
could
seriously injure you. Safety belts help keep you
in
position for air bag inflation before and
during
a crash. Always wear your safety belt,
even with frontal air bags. The driver should
sit
as far back as possible while
still
maintaining
control of the vehicle. Front occupants should
not lean on or sleep against the door.
Anyone who is up against, or very close to,
any air bag when
it
inflates can be seriously
injured or killed. Air bags plus lap-shoulder
belts offer the best protection for adults,
but
CAUTION: (Continued)
not for yo g children
d
infants. Neither the
vehicle’s safety belt system nor its air bag
system is designed for them. Young children
and infants need the protection that a child
restraint system can provide. Always secure
children properly
in
your vehicle. To read how,
see the part of this manual called “Older
Children” or “Infants and Young Children”.
There is an air bag
readiness light on the
instrument panel, which
shows
AIR
BAG.
AIR
BAG
The system checks the air bag electrical system for
malfunctions. The light tells you
if
there is an electrical
problem. See
Air Bag Readiness Light on page
3-36.
1-54
