Many new vehicles have side-impact airbags as standard or optional equipment. Side-impact air bags are designed to produce energy-absorbing buffers between people and the vehicle doors and/or side windows in the event of a moderate-to-severe side-impact collision. Today there are three primary types of side-impact air bags: head; thorax or torso; and a combination of head-thorax side-impact air bags.
Side-impact air bags can be located in the side of the seats nearest to the doors, in the doors or in the roof area above the front and/or rear side windows. To learn whether your vehicle has side-impact air bags and where they are located, refer to your owner's manual.
Are the side-impact air bags in my GM vehicle appropriate for my children riding in the back seat?
GM's side-impact airbag systems have been designed to minimize the risk of child injury and provide improved safety for properly seated and restrained occupants. GM subjects its side-impact air bags in passenger seating positions to testing using state-of-the-art child dummies.
GM worked cooperatively with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, other manufacturers, consumer advocates and regulators to develop voluntary safety standards for side-impact airbags.
Regardless of the air bag system in your vehicle, you will minimize the risk of injury to children if you follow all instructions regarding child restraint, lap and shoulder belt use, and proper positioning in the vehicle.
My GM vehicle has side-impact air bags. What has GM done to ensure that these bags will not injure my children sitting in the back seat?
GM's side-impact air bag systems have been designed to minimize the risk of child injury and provide improved safety for properly seated and restrained occupants. GM subjects its side-impact air bags in passenger seating positions to testing using state-of-the-art child dummies.
GM worked cooperatively with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, other manufacturers, consumer advocates and regulators to develop voluntary safety standards for side-impact air bags. GM vehicles are designed to meet these standards.
Regardless of the airbag system in your vehicle, you will minimize the risk of injury to children if you follow all instructions regarding child restraint, lap and shoulder belt use, and proper positioning in the vehicle.
