Driver Safety

The steering wheel and column has safety features to protect the driver. The following components may be mounted on or near the steering column:

Energy-Absorbing Steering Column

The energy-absorbing steering column compresses in the event of a front-end collision, which reduces the chance of injury to the driver. The energy-absorbing feature, collapsible steering shaft and break away mounting features help reduce the injury in the event of an accident. In addition to these features, the following driver safety features may be on the steering column:

SIR Coil and Module

For additional information on the operation of the SIR coil and module, refer to Supplemental Inflatable Restraint System Description and Operation .

Steering Wheel Angle Sensor or Steering Wheel Position Sensor

The steering wheel position sensor is located somewhere along the steering shaft assembly. The sensor measures the position of the steering wheel and the speed at which it is rotated. A signal representing this measurement is provided to the vehicle stability enhancement system (VSES) module. The VSES module uses this signal, along with several others representing different vehicle conditions, to monitor the driving behavior of the vehicle and ensure that it stays in control. If the VSES module determines that the vehicle is out of control it provides signals to the powertrain control module (PCM) and the ABS module. These output signals are used to modulate the transmission torque and brake pressure of each of the vehicles wheels in order to regain control of the vehicle.