A restraint apparatus 10 for protecting a vehicle occupant in a side impact or rollover event. The restraint apparatus 10 includes a deployment guide 21 that includes a housing having a channel 30 with a substantially smoothed interior 33 and longitudinal slot 32. A guide member 21 is slidably retained in the channel 30 and has an extension 20 protruding from the slotted side of the channel 30. The extension 20 is attachable to a restraint device 12 deployable laterally of a vehicle occupant. An actuator 18 is provided and is operable to drive the guide member 21 from a first end of the channel 30 toward a second end. A driving of the guide member 21 facilitates deployment of the restraint device 12 and supplies at least a longitudinal tensioning force to the restraint device 12 to provide lateral support thereto.