Author Topic: How affective are airbags? (Read 2540 times)

susan_t · « **on:** July 17, 2005, 03:25:52 pm »

Hey guys,

Yes, me again! I wanted your thoughts on how effective airbags are. If I was to dis-engage my air bag, would that be a bad thing? I was told as long as I wear my seatbelt properly, I'm ok. But I'm not sure about that.

Thanks

initial_D · « **Reply #1 on:** July 17, 2005, 05:02:34 pm »

I_G,you NO LIKE the stock steering wheel in your Integra, oui?

Airbags do their job very well in severe frontal collisions, assuming seatbelts are worn also. In minor crashes, the first gen airbags do more harm than good (deployes way too fast and too much pressure). But they do protect facial injuries against fly debris, namely the windshield. But as long as you are wearing your seltbelt, everything should be OK.

I know lots of people have taken their airbags out and put in aftermarket steering wheels, myself included. I have a good habit of not following too closely in traffic, giving myself of plenty reaction time.

exserviceguy · « **Reply #2 on:** July 17, 2005, 05:13:45 pm »

Hi Gang, I agree that first generation air bags were a little too much, but realize that they were designed for the average American of the day who didn't wear a seat belt. Fortunately seat belt use has gone way up since then, therefore air bag deployment speed and power has gone down. But for all of you modifiers that are taking out the air bags, what does your insurance company think of that? Will they cover medical costs above and beyond medicare if you are injured? And that friend or family member who borrows your car for a trip to the corner store, are you getting a signed release? And giving yourself plenty of reaction time won't help when someone crosses into your lane coming the other way. I'm not saying modifying the system is wrong, just make sure you and anyone else who rides in your vehicle knows the risks.

initial_D · « **Reply #3 on:** July 17, 2005, 05:55:00 pm »

Hee hee, NO one drives my car. PERIOD.

The passenger airbag is still intact. Besides, none of my family member could stand sitting in my car, way too harsh of a ride for them to take. Wify drives her car when we go out together. The point regarding insurance is very good, my insurance company doesn’t have a FINE PRINT about factory Restraint Systems. But should check with the insurance company just to make sure.

Anywho, I have a different point of view in life. Do what I can to prevent shlt from happening, but when my time has come, and the situation is in god’s hands, it is not a concern for me.

The Fuzz · « **Reply #4 on:** July 17, 2005, 08:54:29 pm »

From what I have seen (and I've seen plenty) there's no way I would go without an airbag. As much as I consider myself a good driver and hope that I'll never have to use them, I don't trust anyone else. Anything I can have to enhance my chances to survive an accident is something I don't want to be without.

initial_D · « **Reply #5 on:** July 17, 2005, 09:10:45 pm »

C_P, good to see you again, MIA for a while.

Just how big WERE those two beers???

beer

This is the samller one, but it is less filling.

Shnak · « **Reply #6 on:** July 18, 2005, 07:48:06 am »

I thought removing/disengaging your airbag from your steering wheel, or driving a car WITHOUT a driver's side air bag was illegal?

exserviceguy · « **Reply #7 on:** July 18, 2005, 08:01:07 am »

Air bags like daytime running lamps are federally mandated items and what's legal or not in your car is a provincial responsibility. At the speed of a herd of turtles, the Ontario gov't has not amended their rules and regs to recognize air bags or drl's. So a tech performing an Ontario DOT safety inspection can pass a vehicle with inoperative or missing airbags or drl's. Fortunately few do.

Bullet Blue · « **Reply #8 on:** July 18, 2005, 11:48:58 am »

True. Neither one of my cars have DRL's working on them as I believe it isn't illegal to not have them in NS. As for airbags, that would be something that you would have to look into. Each province is different.

safristi · « **Reply #9 on:** July 18, 2005, 12:59:04 pm »

mrthompson · « **Reply #10 on:** July 18, 2005, 01:05:12 pm »

safristi · « **Reply #11 on:** July 18, 2005, 02:21:40 pm »

initial_D · « **Reply #12 on:** July 18, 2005, 08:12:57 pm »

Geez, thanks for sharing your childhood memory with us.

Glad to see that therapy worked out well for you, even thought we do see evidence of an elapse every now and then.

The poor shrink, can image what he had to gone thru ...

ovr50 · « **Reply #13 on:** July 18, 2005, 08:29:36 pm »

C'on Saf, can't you get grosser stuff than that.............yech..

nefcanuck · « **Reply #14 on:** July 20, 2005, 12:23:32 pm »

I was involved in a collision with a first gen airbag where the car was launched in the air and barrel rolled twice.

Without that airbag I probably would have been looking at serious facial disfigurement 'cause I hit that airbag like an in his prime Mike Tyson hit his opponents.

So for me, airbags & ABS or no sale.

NefCanuck

barrie1 · « **Reply #15 on:** July 20, 2005, 02:25:29 pm »

I am also a strong believer in airbags as my oldest daighter walked away from a headon crash at 50Mph in her 1996 Sunfire which was totalled from the impact. She had a sore face and a slightly bruised knee but otherwise she was alright and her unborn baby was fine as well. He's 5 now and fine. I do believe they save lives a lot more then we realize.

Snowman · « **Reply #16 on:** July 20, 2005, 08:21:17 pm »

back in 2001 Wiffy pilled into a rock-cut at 100 kph at a 60 Deg. angle….she fell asleep at the wheel. Two broken legs and an ankle were her injuries. She was in a wheel chair for six months but no upper body damage. Air bags save lives.

susan_t · « **Reply #17 on:** July 21, 2005, 12:00:36 pm »

Thanks guys. I know quite a few people I talk to, even my mechanic are against airbags. And the other half believe in them. My mechanic was saying as long as I wear my seatbelt correctly, I should be fine. He also said, just because the SRS light comes on when I initally start my car, which indicates the SRS is functioning, but doesn't mean it will deploy on an impact. Nevertheless, I kept the airbag on my 95' and my 90' didn't come with airbags, so the insurance company can't get me on that one.

P.S. those are some scary a#$ pics!!

skypoint · « **Reply #18 on:** July 25, 2005, 06:37:28 pm »

Your airbag won't always go off. But that does not mean that it is not working. Many cars have sensors that only trigger them in case of a severe impact that the car's passive safety systems could not deal with.

Topgear, a BBC car show, did a test where they crashed a brand new minivan head-on into a 11-year old minivan (same model, much earlier model year).

Both minivans had airbags, and they were testing the effect on crash dummies in the minivans.

In the 11 year old minivan, the driver's airbag inflated during the impact.
In the brand new minivan, the driver's airbag did not inflate.

But in the 11-year old one , the car's safety cage was unable to handle the impact and the crash dummy suffered other injuries that would have been fatal

In the brand new minivan, not only did the airbag NOT inflate, but the crash dummy suffered almost no injuries.

They got someone from Renault, who made the minivans, explain why the airbag did not inflate in the new minivan. He explained that the sensors embedded in the minivan detected that the force of the collision was less than the maximum force the safety cage and sealtbelt system in the modern van were designed to bear, so it did not see a need to inflate the airbag.

This technology has been widespread for nearly 10 years.

What I'm getting at, is that in a low-speed crash, up to around 40-50km/h, a modern airbag is unlikely to inflate. It is designed to protect you in high-speed crashes.

camarobuyer86 · « **Reply #19 on:** August 15, 2005, 07:12:20 pm »

I bought a 1991 camaro in December. Drivers side airbag? I dont know if its been tinkered with. The wheel has yellow plastic coming out from under the leather on the steering wheel. A friend of mine said it was "leather shrinkage." sounds ridiculous to me. Could be airbag has been tinkered with. The car gives an "air inflate" indicator light when the car is started. used cars you take a risk.. you dont know if you have an air bag or not. Then people tell me it will cost up to $3000 American to get the airbag inspected and serviced. I paid $2600 american for the whole car. Anybody on this site know what the American Federal laws are, with regard to airbags? Airbags are serious bsiness. They should give airbags the vehicles VIN number. Canada and US should require airbag inspection certificates everytime a car is sold. And the cost to inspect and repair should be affordable. Seems the only people that can afford to fix airbags on used cars are people who buy a new car ever four years anyway. Up in Canada, you have a socialist medical system. Im not getting into discussion about whether its good or bad. Whether it works or not. MY POINT is that maybe airbag inspection and repair should be part of your socialized medical care. What does that have to do with medical treatment? A MAJOR part of medical treatment is the prevention.