Occupant restraint system and method having smart process initiation control

A vehicle occupant restraint system (10) has an actuatable occupant restraint device (16) with an aspect adjustable for adjusting actuation of the restraint device. An associated control method controls the system (10). Within the system (10), a sensor (40) senses a vehicle operating parameter functionally related to crash acceleration and provides a signal (42) indicative thereof. A threshold determination function (44) of a microcomputer (18) determines whether the signal (42) from the sensor (40) exceeds a threshold value. An occupant characteristic sensor (26) senses an occupant characteristic in response to a determination that the signal (42) from the sensor (40) exceeds the threshold value and provides a signal (28A) indicative thereof. A restraint adjustment controller function (38) of the microcomputer (18) determines adjustment of the adjustable aspect of the restraint device (16) in response to the determination that the signal (42) from the sensor (40) exceeds the threshold value and in response to the signal (28A) from the occupant characteristic sensor (26). The adjustment controller function (38) provides a signal (20A) indicative of the determined adjustment to cause adjustment of the restraint device (16).