Black plate (46,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 20113-46 Seats and RestraintsHow Does an AirbagRestrain?In moderate to severe frontal ornear frontal collisions, even beltedoccupants can contact the steeringwheel or the instrument panel. Inmoderate to severe side collisions,even belted occupants can contactthe inside of the vehicle.Airbags supplement the protectionprovided by safety belts. Frontalairbags distribute the force ofthe impact more evenly over theoccupant's upper body, stoppingthe occupant more gradually.Seat‐mounted side impact androof-rail airbags distribute the forceof the impact more evenly overthe occupant's upper body.Rollover capable roof-rail airbagsare designed to help contain thehead and chest of occupants inthe outboard seating positions inthe first, second, and third rows,if equipped with a third row seat.The rollover capable roof-railairbags are designed to help reducethe risk of full or partial ejection inrollover events, although no systemcan prevent all such ejections.But airbags would not help inmany types of collisions, primarilybecause the occupant's motionis not toward those airbags. SeeWhen Should an Airbag Inflate? onpage 3‑44 for more information.Airbags should never be regardedas anything more than a supplementto safety belts.What Will You See Afteran Airbag Inflates?After the frontal airbags andseat-mounted side impact airbagsinflate, they quickly deflate, soquickly that some people may noteven realize an airbag inflated.Roof-rail airbags may still be at leastpartially inflated for some time afterthey deploy. Some components ofthe airbag module may be hot forseveral minutes. For location of theairbag modules, see What Makesan Airbag Inflate? on page 3‑45.The parts of the airbag that comeinto contact with you may be warm,but not too hot to touch. There maybe some smoke and dust comingfrom the vents in the deflatedairbags. Airbag inflation does notprevent the driver from seeing outof the windshield or being able tosteer the vehicle, nor does it preventpeople from leaving the vehicle.
