FIAT Punto Classic - Manual (Page 150)

149
CORRECT USE OF THE CAR
W
ARNING
LIGHTS AND MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICA
TIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
SAFETY DEVICES
FRONT AND SIDE AIR BAGS
The car is fitted with driver’s air bag. As optional it can
be fitted with passenger’s air bag, side bags and
window bag.
The front air bag (driver and passenger) has been
designed to protect the occupants in the event of
head-on crashes of medium-high severity, by placing
the cushion between the occupant and the steering
wheel or dashboard.
Front air bags are designed to protect car’s occupants
in front crashes and therefore non-activation in other
types of collisions (side collisions, rear shunts, roll-
overs, etc.) is not a system malfunction.
In case of front crash, an electronic control unit, when
required, triggers the inflation of the cushion according
to the severity of the collision. The cushion
immediately inflates, placing itself as a protection
between the body of the front occupants and the
structure that could cause injuries. Immediately after,
the cushion deflates.
The front air bag (driver and passenger) is not a
replacement of but complementary to the use of belts,
which should always be worn, as specified by law in
Europe and most non-European countries.
In case of crash, a person not wearing the seat belt
moves forward and may come into contact with the
cushion while it is still inflating. Under this
circumstance the protection offered by the air bag is
reduced.