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What exactly is an airbag for?

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Originally they developed front airbags because they found that there were a lot of crash deaths in people who didn't wear their seatbelts, the airbag worked no matter what. Now it is made to release at different speeds depending on whether the seatbelt is worn or not and sometimes also the weight of the occupant.

With three point seatbelts, you can move forward alot still. Four point seatbelts would improve that, but have other problems.
 
The parts of your body not stopped by the seatbelt (particularly your head, neck, and arms) continue to travel forward. You look like a ragdoll. This can cause serious injuries, ranging from basal skull fractures to impacts with your face into the steering wheel. To prevent this, racecar drivers wear a HANS device while regular passenger cars have airbags.
 
Originally posted by: Vic
The parts of your body not stopped by the seatbelt (particularly your head, neck, and arms) continue to travel forward. You look like a ragdoll. This can cause serious injuries, ranging from basal skull fractures to impacts with your face into the steering wheel. To prevent this, racecar drivers wear a HANS device while regular passenger cars have airbags.
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:thumbsup:
 
Originally posted by: Heisenberg
Originally posted by: Rogue
I saw a minor traffic accident once where the driver's head went forward and hit the windshield, leaving a spot of blood and a nice, concentric spider web crack in the glass. The airbag did not deploy due to the minor incident, however, she also had marks and bruising consistent with wearing her seatbelt as well. She swore that she wears her seatbelt all the time and I had no reason not to believe her. Had it been an accident at a higher rate of speed, she would have been in pretty bad shape.
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😕
Aren't seat belts supposed to lock up long before your head gets to the windshield?
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I see a lot of drivers that sit so close to the steering wheel that no seat belt could stop their head hitting the windscreen. I remember the advice that I had when I was going for my drivers license that you should have your arms only slightly bent when gripping the steering wheel.
 
Originally posted by: mchammer
Originally they developed front airbags because they found that there were a lot of crash deaths in people who didn't wear their seatbelts, the airbag worked no matter what. Now it is made to release at different speeds depending on whether the seatbelt is worn or not and sometimes also the weight of the occupant.

With three point seatbelts, you can move forward alot still. Four point seatbelts would improve that, but have other problems.
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Your first half I think is incorrect because I've seen tests where it shows that people got really screwed with out a seat belt but with airbag. They said airbags are only effective when you have a seatbelt. Is it possible for anyone to answer my recent question? Is there a site with pics with test dummies/crash tests? Doesn't have to be particular cars, but I'd really like info about crashes with objects being held.
 
Side and front air bags protect your head. Mandated for the near future, side impact air bags are to protect your head from the side glass. Apparantely, many head injuries occur from hitting your head on the side glass.

<--- Company makes components for side impact air bags! 🙂
 
Originally posted by: zugzoog
Originally posted by: Heisenberg
Originally posted by: Rogue
I saw a minor traffic accident once where the driver's head went forward and hit the windshield, leaving a spot of blood and a nice, concentric spider web crack in the glass. The airbag did not deploy due to the minor incident, however, she also had marks and bruising consistent with wearing her seatbelt as well. She swore that she wears her seatbelt all the time and I had no reason not to believe her. Had it been an accident at a higher rate of speed, she would have been in pretty bad shape.
Click to expand...
😕
Aren't seat belts supposed to lock up long before your head gets to the windshield?
Click to expand...

I see a lot of drivers that sit so close to the steering wheel that no seat belt could stop their head hitting the windscreen. I remember the advice that I had when I was going for my drivers license that you should have your arms only slightly bent when gripping the steering wheel.
Click to expand...

My driver's ed teacher told me that you should be as far away as possible without being able to lock your elbows (because if you panic in a crash, doing that will really mess up your day)
 
Also, depending on the severity of the impact, the steering wheel can be pushed towards the driver making that buffer the airbag creates even more important.
 
Aren't seat belts supposed to lock up long before your head gets to the windshield?
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Yes, that's the idea.

However, seat belts don't restrain the head, and only restrain one shoulder. There is therefore a lot of potential for movement - and a lot of potential for injury with the head and torso moving forward to contact the steering wheel or windscreen.

Modern cars have explosive seatbelt tensioners that are fired with the air bag. In the event of an collision, the charges tighten the belt forcing you back into the seat and engaging the inertial lock.
 
Crash tests are not usually done with loose objects because
#1: They aren't required
#2: It's fairly rare that people have such things going on
#3: They cost additional money
#4: It depends VERY highly on the individual item. My laptop would be MUCH MORE damaging than, say, a Dell laptop because of the materials it is made from.
 
Originally posted by: EyeMWing
Crash tests are not usually done with loose objects because
#1: They aren't required
#2: It's fairly rare that people have such things going on
#3: They cost additional money
#4: It depends VERY highly on the individual item. My laptop would be MUCH MORE damaging than, say, a Dell laptop because of the materials it is made from.
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Road trip? I'm just wondering how can I setup my laptop so that it won't kill me in an accident but at the same time use it. Remember your in a rental car so no laptopstand would work (built in ones).
 
wait to use it....

airbags deploy at like 300mph (something like that) so its gonna punch your laptop into your chest or face
 
fyi If you are in a head on collision without an airbag, that seatbelt will leave a bruise on you that will make it hurt to laugh for a week (Or your steering column will break your ribs if you're not wearing a seatbelt). An airbag would reduce this bruising, in addition to reducing the degree of neck injury since seatbelts don't restrain your head. In a more severe collision the seatbelt alone wouldn't be enough.
 
when you crash, the area that you are gets considerably smaller, depending on the car. so, your body gets very close to everything.

look at some of these
 
Originally posted by: goku
Ok so I see that it's use to prevent you from slamming your head into the steering wheel BUT last time I checked, when I nodded my head down, I couldn't even get close to the steering wheel, it's a good 2 feet away from it...
Edit: Sorry bout that, yea 3 ft is a little far but still.
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My recommendation is self study..pick a car with no airbags.

Hit a tree.

Repeat with on with airbags.

discuss.
 
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