In addition to protecting drivers’
or passengers’ heads during a side-impact crash, some
side-impact head air bags, or "curtains,"
can also protect occupants from injury and ejection during
a rollover crash. This is important because
ejection causes most injuries and fatalities in rollover
crashes - most people who are killed are not wearing safety
belts to hold them in place.
Not all side-impact head air bags are designed to deploy as rollover
air bags. Check with your dealer and vehicle manufacturer for the
availability of side-impact head air bags that can also operate
as rollover air bags.
HOW ROLL OVER AIRBAGS WORK?
If a rollover is detected, the side-impact head air bags are typically
triggered in combination with safety belt retractors to remove slack
from the safety belt and keep the occupant firmly in the seat. Most
side-impact head air bags deploy downward from the overhead roof
rail, very close to the side windows. In many cases the rollover
sensing system can determine an imminent rollover when the roll
angle is very small and all four wheels are still on the ground.
When deployed as rollover air bags, side-impact
head air bags will stay inflated longer to help protect the heads
of the occupants during the rollover. They also keep the occupants
of the outboard seats from being thrown from the vehicle. The combination
of these air bags and properly worn safety belts can significantly
reduce the chance of ejection.