Airbags – front
Most airbags are front airbags. They work together with a safety belt to protect you in a front-on crash. The airbag is stored in the steering wheel hub or dashboard, and inflates in a split second after impact. As the force of a crash propels someone forward, the airbag protects them by ‘cushioning’ their body and slowing down the rate at which they’re moving.
You should always wear a safety belt whether or not the car you’re in has airbags.
Airbags are designed to supplement safety belts, not replace them. Some inflate only in crashes severe enough to threaten people wearing safety belts - and airbags aren’t as helpful as safety belts in some types of crashes, such as a rollover.
There are different types of front airbags:
- Head airbags for first row seats
- drivers head airbag
- front passengers head airbag
- Dual stage front airbags
- Head airbags for second row seats
Dual stage front airbags inflate more or less depending on the size of the person in the car. Usually this size judgement is based on the position of the seat.
Airbags – side
Side airbags work in a side-on crash to protect people sitting on the struck side of the car. They’re available in the front and back (second row) of a car. In a convertible, side airbags are in the front of the car and provide head and thorax protection.
Side torso (chest protecting) airbags are usually in the seat by the door. These are a single side airbag that protect your torso; they don’t protect any other part of your body. Side torso and head airbags are single side airbags that protect both your torso and your head.
‘Side curtain’ airbags are located behind the roof trim above the doors, and cover the windows when they inflate. They usually cover front and rear windows, protecting people in both seats.
Head side airbags protect someone’s head from coming into contact with whatever object the car has hit – such as trees and poles. They can often prevent fatalities that would otherwise be inevitable in this type of crash.
Airbags – knee
Knee airbags are a new safety feature that help to keep people in their seated position if a front-on crash happens. There are two types of knee airbags – the driver’s knee airbag and the front passenger’s knee airbag. Both are located low in the front of a vehicle. On the driver’s side, the airbag is sited below the steering column while on the passenger’s side, the airbag can be found below the glove box.
Some facts about airbags
An airbag will not block the driver's vision in a crash - it inflates and deflates faster than you can blink.
Airbags are not soft. They must inflate incredibly quickly, which means the front of an airbag moves towards a person at between 160 to 320 km/h.
There is the potential for injury from airbags. To avoid this, newer airbags inflate more slowly. Some can adjust to different types of crash or passenger size.
Despite some risks, airbags do reduce injuries and have saved thousands of lives.
Airbags can’t be added to a car like some other equipment. They must be designed to work with the safety system of a specific model. Some are bigger than others. Driver's airbags in European cars are usually about 30-45 litres; American models may be up to 70 litres. Passenger airbags are typically much bigger.
To avoid the risk of injury from an airbag:
- always wear a safety belt.
- don’t sit too close to the steering wheel or slide the seat a long way forward.
- don’t rest anything over the airbag cover or put anything between you and the airbag (except a safety belt).
- never put a rear-facing infant restraint in the front seat of a vehicle with a passenger airbag.
- if a car is in a crash and the airbag inflates, there is a legal requirement to replace the airbag if the car is less than 14 years old.
- Read your vehicle manual for any other information about its airbags.
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