Are Airbags Safe?

Though automobile airbags have proven to be quite an advance in car safety, airbags also cause injury and in some cases even death if not properly used.

Regardless, the National Safety Council predicts over 1,040 lives were saved due to airbags in 1998. However, nearly 100 children's lives were taken at the hands of an airbag during 1998. These deaths were caused by either the children sitting in front of an airbag in the front passenger seat, not wearing a seatbelt, or not being properly fastened by the seat belt.

Realize airbags in the front-end of a car are not designed for children! Unnecessary death may occur if a child is sitting in front of the airbag in any of the following instances: babies in backward-facing children seats, a small child in a forward-facing child seat, or an older child only secured in their seat by a waist-belt seatbelt as opposed to a shoulder seatbelt.

Moreover, the position in which you sit could be a determining factor in whether or not airbags are a safe mechanism. Air bag safety calls for all drivers and passengers in a vehicle to be properly seated with seat belts being worn. Properly seated means being seated with both feet on the ground and the body is in an upright position. Also, a seatbelt should always be firmly worn and be properly secured in place.

In contrast to the safety airbags could provide, an airbag generally deploys at a speed of 200 miles per hour. This speed is required to cushion the rider from a crash's impact but will only prove to be beneficial if the rider is seated and correctly wearing their seat belt.

As previously mentioned numerous times, being seated in the proper position may be the deciding factor in whether or not your airbag will cushion the individual on impact. Being seated too close to the dashboard is not recommended, as the force of an airbag deploying at 200 miles per hour will be too strong. It is recommended, however, that the driver have their seat placed back as far as possible. This recommendation should be adhered to by people of a shorter stature especially because they are closer to the airbag more times than not.