Airbags, experiences, smaller passengers

[supertramp]

Assuming the following:

- Standard car (Megane Scenic 1999)
- Seat belts used
- Front airbags (one for each front-occupant)

...how safe are airbags when they are deployed? What if the passenger is short (4'8" approx), I've heard stories of airbags causing serious injuries and even death in certain circumstances!
Can anyone who has experienced airbag deployment tell me what it's like? Are my concerns justified, or are airbags really the best thing since sliced bread?

[Tonyrec]

Sadly i was in a car the other week that deployed both its front Airbags.

I didnt feel a thing but my passenger suffered grazing to his nose and forehead from the bag.

However, im sure that he would also agree that he was better off with than without.

[BlackStuff]

My understanding is that the issues arising from short people and airbags relate purely to their distance from the airbag at the time it deploys.

In other words a driver with shorter arms sits closer to the steering wheel and is therefore subjected to more of the blast of the airbag deploying than a taller person would be.

But if the person in question is merely the front seat passenger, then there is no reason for them to move their seat forwards as they don't have to reach the steering wheel and/or pedals. Thus they can leave the seat further back and be at no disadvantage compared to a taller person.

At least that's my understanding. An airbag engineer will no doubt post now and prove me utterly wrong...

[cortinaman]

what amazed me is when i see people driving where they are sitting so close to the wheel that they are steering with their nipples.dont these drivers realise that if the bag goes off it isnt going to do anything to save them,it'll simply cause more injuries.

[Balmoral Green]

I think the main point is that if an airbag hits a full size adult it can save them with only minor friction burns and bruising. If it hits a small person at close range it does little for safety and can break their neck. Several cases in the States with kids getting killed this way. Worth bearing in mind though that our airbags are little ones to supplement the seatbelts, in the states they have bigger ones that replace the seatbelts (at least thats how they look at it in practice).

[Psychobert]

BlackStuff said:

My understanding is that the issues arising from short people and airbags relate purely to their distance from the airbag at the time it deploys. In other words a driver with shorter arms sits closer to the steering wheel and is therefore subjected to more of the blast of the airbag deploying than a taller person would be. But if the person in question is merely the front seat passenger, then there is no reason for them to move their seat forwards as they don't have to reach the steering wheel and/or pedals. Thus they can leave the seat further back and be at no disadvantage compared to a taller person. At least that's my understanding. An airbag engineer will no doubt post now and prove me utterly wrong...

No, thats exactly it. The bag is timed to go off such that the person hitting it does so just as it starts to deflate. The problem with shorter people is that they sit closer to the bag and so hit it when its still rapidly inflating. Its the difference between you hitting a wall, and you hittiing a wall thats coming towards you very fast.

I helped a team design a system that timed the firing of the bag according to the distance the seat from the steering wheel and the weight on the seat. Unfortunately, none of the motor manufacturers we spoke with were interested in fitting it.

Best advice, is to sit as far back from the wheel as you can comfortably do whilst still retaining full control of the vehicle. What always amused me, or maybe scares me, is the two groups that either streer with their nipples, or with their fingertips.. Both equally bad..

[supertramp]

Excellent info chaps & chapesses, just what I was after. So my 4'8" passenger is ok as long as they wear the seat belt (they do anyway), and have the seat some way back from the airbag.

Psychobert, is this the type of "Advanced" airbag you were involved with?
www.nhtsa.dot.gov/airbags/advancedairbag/AdvancedairbagQ-n-A.htm#questions

[Psychobert]

That looks about the right sort of thing.. Nice to see something sensible in terms of road safety etc taken seriously at last..

[Mr Whippy]

I sit a fair way back and mine went off. It was an older 405 though, so it was only a small ish one I think (can't remember at the time, but afterwards it looked all small).

Got my arms more than anything, weird swirly burns all over.

Didn't hit my face, but wouldda made a weird swirly burn there too I guess.

Even though I didn't hit it, it was pleasing to know that had the accident been worse, my head would have hit it, and not a solid steering wheel!
Definately advised, squishy bags are better than hard metal.

As said above though, don't sit and drive with your nipples like mothers seem to do. I'm sure that could be pretty bad...

Dave