There is a lot of misinformation about airbags and a lot of people wonder whether they are actually more dangerous than safe. Others place too much reliance on the airbags and wind up injured or killed as a result. Airbags have killed and injured drivers and vehicle occupants but those deaths weren't necessarily the fault of the airbag. Knowing how to properly use an airbag can make all the difference in the world between walking away from a crash or suffering greater injuries. But how can you use an automatic device that you really have little control over? You have a lot more control than you may realize.

Taking a look at those who have been killed or injured by airbags and how the airbag works will help explain the issues:

• Small people - generally 5'4" and under have been killed by airbags because they were sitting too close to the steering column. The airbag normally deploys in one-tenth of a second at 200 mph. For someone sitting too close to the airbag, it will be like a powerful punch to the face. To properly position yourself a safe distance from the airbag, place the seat so that, when you stretch your arm straight out, your wrist will lie on top of the steering wheel. That should place you at a proper distance from the wheel. Another way to check is to hold out a standard sheet of business paper. Lying flat, the sheet should fit between you and the steering wheel.
  
  
  If you have an adjustable steering wheel you should adjust it so that the wheel is facing slightly upward, toward your face, not toward your chest. You don't want a 200 mph punch to the chest but rather a pillow waiting for your head to land in it.
  



• Babies in rear-facing car seats – Babies have been killed when the passenger side airbag deployed and hit the back of the baby's head. That is why all newer model cars have a switch to turn off the passenger side airbag. Children belong in the back seat; in the center if possible. If you can't place your child in the back seat, make sure the passenger side airbag is turned off.



• People who don't wear their seat belts – The great majority of people who have been killed or injured by airbags were killed because they weren't wearing their seat belts. Airbags are technically known as Supplemental or Secondary Restraint Systems (SRS). You may have noticed those initials embossed into your steering wheel. If the airbag is a secondary restraint system that means the seat belt is the primary restraint system. Imagine the collision forces of a 150 pound man flying forward at 45 mph into an airbag that is coming toward him at 200 mph. The forces are tremendous.
  
  Airbags are meant to be used in conjunction with both the lap belt and the shoulder harness. If used properly, the driver's head will move forward into an already deployed cushion. You should never use the presence of airbags as an excuse not to wear your seat belt.
  

Drivers should remember that the airbag won’t deploy in every crash. The sensors that activate the airbag are located on the front bumper and have to be hit directly to activate. That means they will normally only activate in a head-on or a rear-end crash. Again, you can’t count on the presence of airbags as an excuse not to wear seat belts.

When the airbag does deploy, it will deflate one second later. The airbag deflates so that it won’t be in the way when you’re evacuating the vehicle.
Airbags are a highly effective secondary life saving system. Remember that it is a secondary or back-up system; use your seat belts and make sure you are positioned a minimum distance from the airbag.

Labels: air bags, airbags, car seats, driver safety, seat belt, seat belt safety, vehicle safety