ABS HONDA PASSPORT 2001 2.G User Guide

T
o hel p automobil e occupant s surviv e th e
tremendo s force s o f a crash , vehicl e
designer s hav e develope d numerou s safet y
feature s an d systems .
Fo r example , moder n automobile s hav e
fron t an d rea r "crus h zones " tha t ar e
designe d t o defor m o r crumpl e i n a crash .
Th e crumplin g lengthen s th e duratio n o f th e
crash , an d help s absor b an d dissipat e cras h
energy , whic h lower s th e rat e o f deceleration
i n th e passenge r compartment .
Th e dashboard , seats , headrest s an d othe r
interio r part s o f automobile s als o us e energy -
absorbin
g material s t o hel p protec t th e

occupants . I n addition , th e steerin g colum n i s

designe d t o collaps e i f struc k durin g a

collision .
Sea t belt s hav e prove n t o b e th e singl e
mos t effectiv e devic e i n reducin g automobil e
fatalitie s an d injurie s i n al l type s o f accidents .
Whe n properl y worn , sea t belt s hel p restrai n
occupant s fro m strikin g interio r part s o f th e
car , the y kee p occupant s connecte d t o th e ca r
s o the y ca n tak e advantag e o f th e energ y
absorptio n buil t int o th e car , an d the y
allo w occupant s t o decelerat e mor e slowl y
durin g a crash . Airbag
s ar e a recen t additio n t o a
car' s occupan t protectio n system . Airbag s
hav e a n importan t bu t limite d role—t o
hel p protec t th e head s an d chest s o f
front-sea t occupant s durin g a sever e

fronta l collision .

However , yo u can' t ge t th e ful l

benefi t o f thes e life-savin g feature s

unles s yo u buckl e up . I n short , it' s bette r
t o le t th e ca r absor b th e energy . It' s buil t
t o tak e it .

Airbag
s ca n povid e life-savin g protection ,
bu t onl y i n a sever e fronta l collision .
Airbag s canno t b e helpful , an d the y ar e
no t intende d t o deploy , i n an y othe r typ e o f
collision , includin g sid e o r rea r impacts ,
rollovers , an d mino r o r moderat e fronta l

collisions .

I f th e airbag s deploye d i n an y o f thes e
situations , the y woul d onl y caus e additiona l
replacemen t expense , an d the y migh t eve n
caus e additiona l injuries .
Seat belts, and the car's ability to absorb
crash energy, offer adequate protection in
minor and moderate frontal collisions.

forwar
d durin g a collision , a n inflatin g airba g
ca n strik e th e chil d an d possibl y caus e seriou s
o r fata l injuries .
I f a smal l chil d absolutel y mus t rid e i n th e
front , t o reduc e th e ris k o f injur y b e sur e t o
mov e th e vehicl e sea t a s fa r t o th e rea r a s
possible , secur e th e chil d sea t t o th e vehicl e
wit h th e sea t belt , an d stra p th e chil d i n th e
chil d sea t accordin g t o th e chil d sea t maker' s
instructions .
W e als o recommen d tha t childre n wh o
hav e outgrow n chil d seat s si t i n th e bac k sea t
an d wea r a lap/shoulde r belt . I f a chil d
slouches , scoot s forwar d o n th e seat , lean s forward
, turn s sideway s o r put s thei r fee t u p
o n th e bac k o f th e sea t i n fron t o f them , thei r
chanc e o f bein g injure d i n an y kin d o f cras h
i s greatl y increased .
I n addition , i f a chil d i s ou t o f positio n i n
th e fron t seat , th e chil d coul d b e seriousl y o r
fatall y injure d i f the y ar e struc k b y a n
inflatin g airbag . I f a large r chil d mus t si t i n
th e front , mov e th e vehicl e sea t a s fa r bac k a s
possible , hav e th e chil d si t u p straigh t wit h
thei r bac k agains t th e seat , an d mak e sur e th e
sea t bel t i s properl y an d securel y fastened .
With
or without airbags, toddlers and

larger children are safer when they are

properly restrained in the back seat.

I
f a n automobil e i s badly damaged in a crash,
does this mea n that the airbags should have

deployed?
No t necessarily . Someon e wh o view s vehicl e
damag e afte r a cras h canno t accuratel y
determin e whethe r o r no t th e airbag s shoul d
hav e inflated . Actually , extensiv e damag e t o
crushabl e bod y part s usuall y indicate s tha t th e
ca r absorbe d cras h energ y an d reduce d th e
rat e o f deceleratio n t o a leve l wher e th e
airbag s woul d no t hav e bee n neede d o r

helpful .
Can
airbags prevent all collision injuries?

Unfortunately , n o safet y syste m ca n provid e

complet e protection .

Airbag s ar e designe d t o sav e you r lif e

an d reduc e th e severit y o f injurie s t o you r

hea d an d chest . Bu t airbag s canno t preven t al l

injuries . Durin g a sever e fronta l collision ,

contactin g a n inflatin g airba g ca n resul t i n