OCCUPANT SAFETY SYSTEM FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE, AND METHOD FOR OPERATING AN OCCUPANT SAFETY SYSTEM OF THIS TYPE

摘要

The invention relates to an occupant safety system (10) for a motor vehicle (12), comprising a steering wheel (14), which can be rotated about a steering axis (A) in order to change the direction of travel and has a steering wheel rim (16) for the manual actuation of the steering wheel (14). The steering wheel rim (16) can be moved between a steering operation position and an occupant safety position. The steering wheel rim (16) spans a rim plane (E), which, in the steering operation position, extends perpendicularly to the steering axis (A). The steering wheel rim (16), in its occupant safety position, is translationally shifted along the steering axis (A) in comparison with the steering operation position and/or is pivoted about an axis of rotation (B) in comparison with the steering operation position such that the rim plane (E) no longer extends perpendicularly to the steering axis (A). Furthermore, a knee airbag module (34) installed outside of the steering wheel (14) is provided, the knee airbag module having a knee airbag (42) which, in the event of a module activation, extends into a space between a dashboard (38) of the motor vehicle (12) and a vehicle occupant (18).