Airbag safety is a crucial part of vehicle protection that every driver and passenger should understand. These life-saving devices are designed to reduce injury during a collision, but knowing how they work and how to respond if they deploy can make all the difference.
While meant to protect you in the event of an accident, airbags have been the source of many critical injuries. Most fatalities from airbags are due to not wearing a seatbelt or sitting too close to the steering wheel. Airbags are a form of supplemental protection, designed to work most effectively in combination with seatbelts.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), from 1987 to 2017 frontal airbags saved 50,457 lives. The risk of death in an accident is reduced by 65% with seat belts alone. Seat belts use in combination with an airbag reduce risks by an additional 15%.
Airbag Injuries
Airbag deployment can lead to a range of injuries to several parts of the body. The rate of airbag deployment, chemicals used within the device, the design, and seat belt use all play a role in airbag-related traumas. There are some common types of injuries caused by airbags, including:
- Abrasions to the upper portion of the body, including arms, chest, and face
- Contusions to arms, knees, chest, face, and internal organs
- Burns to the hands, arms, and chest
- Wrist injuries and sprained fingers
- Cervical spine injuries, including fractures, strains, and blunt force trauma
- Fractures to the skull, rib cage, face, arms, and wrists
- Concussions, brain swelling, brain bruising, and loss of consciousness
- And, many more!
Airbag Deployment
When there is a moderate to severe crash, a signal is sent from the airbag system’s electronic control unit to an inflator within the airbag module. An igniter in the inflator starts a chemical reaction that produces a harmless gas, which inflates the airbag within 1/20th of a second. Since airbags deploy very rapidly, serious or fatal injuries can occur if the driver or passenger is too close or comes in direct contact with the airbag when it deploys.
Frontal and Side Airbags
Sitting as far back from the steering wheel or dashboard as possible, while always wearing a seat belt, helps prevent drivers and passengers from being positioned too close to a deploying frontal airbag. For safety, rear-facing car seats should never be placed in front of an active airbag, and children under the age of 13 should ride in the back seat.
Side-impact airbags deploy at a faster rate due to the minimal space between occupants and the point of impact, whether it be the vehicle’s interior, another vehicle, a tree, or a pole.
Driving Safety
Airbags are not soft pillows; they’re balloons of air that inflate with a blast of energy. Drivers should be aware of safety precautions relating to airbags, including:
- Review the vehicle owner’s manual to determine the type and location of vehicle airbags
- Wear shoulder and lap belts securely and move the seat back as far as possible and recline it slightly
- Pedal extenders can be used to help smaller adults maintain this distance
- And, hold the steering wheel at 9 o’clock and 3 o’clock positions, without wrapping thumbs (The 10 and 2 position is outdated as the 9 and 3 position keeps the hands clear of the airbag during a crash and allows for better control)
What to Do When Airbags Deploy
If you are involved in a collision and any airbags deploy, it’s important to take the following steps:
- Check for injuries first. Assess the condition of the driver and all passengers
- Call 911 immediately if anyone is unconscious or injured
- Do not drive the vehicle after airbags have deployed
- In some vehicles, airbag deployment automatically shuts off the engine to help prevent fires caused by potential fuel leaks
- And, if the airbags deploy and the vehicle is still running, turn off the engine as soon as it is safe to do so
Conclusion
Airbag safety is essential for protecting you and your passengers during a collision. Understanding how airbags work, following proper safety guidelines, and knowing what to do after deployment can greatly reduce the risk of injury.