AIRBAGS: Provide "Neglible protection"

[StageLeft]

I just saw a thing - in Canada it would seem that airbags improve saftey by a mere 2%. In men they enhance it 11% and in women decrease safety by 9%.

The problem is that shorter people (women are generally shorter than men), people are forced to sit close to the wheel to reach the pedals and airbags fill with such an explosive force that they have killed possibly 138 people in Canada since they were introduced. Of course who really knows how many they've really killed but the show I just saw stated that they really have very little benefit to safety.

 

[SuperTool]

Canadian cars really suck

 

[eakers]

its because studies prove that canadians wear their seatbelts much more than americans. i think its our seatbelt laws (but i dunno if you guys have them)
hence canadians are usually saved by the seatbelt not the airbags.

*kat. <-- brother was knocked unconcious by a defective air bag.

 

[eakers]

ps, canadian cars are the same as american.

many of your car parts come from here.

*kat. <-- parents in the CAW

 

[loogie]

loogie <--- felt like doing this.

 

[Mister T]

thats why you need to recline your seat people.
I drive with my seat half-reclined so its like I am
sitting in a LazyBoy. Its chill.

 

[StageLeft]

Thats true the thing did say that most Canadians wear seatbelts...our vehicles aren't quite exactly the same though. For instance its impossible to get side airbags as a dealer option in Canadian civics, but in the US its an option.

 

[vi edit]

I've always been concerned about what airbags may do to a person wearing glasses. The idea of having my glasses broke at the bridge and then jammed into my eyes doesn't sound very encouraging :\

Also, I've read stats that many people think that airbags are a replacement for seatbelts. They aren't. They are co-partners in restraint. An airbag doesn't do any good if you've been shot out of the windshield.

 

[The Stigenator]

I always argue with my mom and dad over the airbag issue, they sit too close to the steering wheel. Its like they are on the steering wheel. First its not comfortable, second if the airbag blows it will hurt.

Anyway I think they understood, my dad is little more relaxed, though his belly does come close to the steering, and my mom well i wont go there, but everytime I drive her car I have to change postions.

 

[shadow]

I'm almost 2 1/2' away from my steering wheel...

 

[ultravox]

The reason airbags are sometimes dangerous is because in the United States, many people believe that they replace seatbelts and the criteria the manufacturers must follow for speed of deployment cause the injuries. In europe where the wearing off seatbelts is more widely accepted, the airbags are deployed with less force and fewer injuries are caused. Make no mistake about this, if your car is not equiped with an air bag, even if wearing a seatbelt your head will smack the steering wheel unless you are seated at almost arm's reach. Your head will in all probability hit the side window as well. The reason for this is because of most people wearing their seatbelts too loosely for them to effectively work.. Those models that are completly loose except lock-up under impact are a joke. What happens if you have an impact while your reaching forward into the glove compartment?

 

[PG]

thats why you need to recline your seat people.

Then your head just gets more time to build up speed before it hits anything.
Be careful, and I really mean that. I don't think leaning back helps. The cars with moving pedals are awesome. It should be standard equipment along with daytime running lights.
Aren't daytime running lights standard in Canada?

 

[FrogDog]

<< Canadian cars really suck >>

LOL!!! Dude, we all drive Chev's, Fords, Toyatas and Hondas up here too.