Each year, seatbelt use saves thousands of lives and prevents millions of injuries. We all realize that seat belts are important and are required by law, but what else can you do to protect yourself in the vehicle? Be sure you understand the importance of buckling properly. Make sure the lap belt is taut across a passenger's lap. The shoulder strap should reach over the shoulder, cross the chest (passing over the sternum) and into the lap buckle. Once you understand seat belt use, what other precautions can you take to keep your passengers and yourself safe?
Driver and Passenger Airbags
Airbags were introduced in the 1980's for testing purposes. As they proved their effectiveness and passed rigorous testing by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, vehicle manufacturers and government officials acknowledged their efficiency. Since their introduction, an estimated 1,800,000 airbags have deployed saving a minimum of 2,620 people from fatal injuries. In 1994, the government declared driver-side airbags mandatory. Passenger-side airbags followed suit in 1998, also becoming mandatory.
Airbags are often referred to as supplemental restraint systems (SRS) because they are supposed to be used in combination with safety belts. They must be rapidly deployed to be effective, so they release with incredible force. Airbags installed by the vehicle manufacturer deploy at speeds as high as 200 mph. Because airbags must provide a cushion of air immediately before impact, they are often placed in the steering wheel column or the dashboard. It is important to be wearing a seatbelt when an airbag deploys. Seatbelts will not only keep you in your seat and help restrain you, but they also keep you at a safe distance from the airbag's deployment force. It is recommended that drivers and front seat passengers be seated at least 10 inches from the airbag. Leaning forward, resting your legs on the dashboard, or using laptop computers are severe safety hazards.
Remember, this type of airbag only deploys during moderate to severe frontal crashes. Side and rear impact crashes and vehicle rollover crashes do not encourage the airbag to release. “Depowered” airbags reduce the risk of injury to passengers out of the proper safety position because they inflate less forcefully. Reading your vehicle's owner manual will inform you as to which type of airbag your vehicle has. Also, on the window visors you will find warnings about proper airbag use. If a vehicle has no rear seat, as in a pickup, an on/off switch will be provided for the passenger side airbag. With children under twelve and infants, this option should be off.
Some people may be concerned that airbags are more hindering than helpful. Since their development, airbags have killed 87 people, 49 of which were children. Remember, the 49 children killed should not have been placed near the airbag. The number of adults killed by airbags is minimal compared to those saved by them.
On their website, the National Safety council offers this tool to remember airbag safety.
Always slide the seat back as far as possible and sit back.
Buckle everyone.
Children 12 and under ride properly restrained in the back seat.
There are several things you can do to keep your passengers and yourself safe regarding airbags. Following these guidelines will minimize your risk of injury from a deploying airbag.
Make sure to always buckle your safety belt properly and wear it in the correct position throughout the trip.
Face forward with shoulder and belt straps in their proper position (see level 1).
Do not put infants in the front seat (even if they are properly fastened into a child restraint system). The airbag's deployment would cause serious injury or death to the infant, regardless of which direction the seat was facing. If the infant must be in the front seat, as with pick-up trucks, make sure the passenger airbag option is turned OFF.
Be sure to secure infants and small children in child restraint systems that are recommended for the child's age and size. Be sure to consult the owner's manual and the directions for the safety seat for proper installation techniques.
Children 12 and under should be seated in rear vehicle seats. This gives them the most protection in the event of a crash and places them safely away from the airbag. If children must be placed in the front seat, move the seat as far back as possible.
Side Airbags
It has been proven that driver and passenger airbags are quite effective. However, technology is constantly being improved to increase our in-vehicle safety. Two types of side airbags (also known as SIPS) have been developed to protect passengers during side collisions. Typical side airbags are most often located in the outboard edge of the seat back or the door. Some types protect the chest, whereas others focus on the head. Other specialty side airbags include the inflatable tubular structures and inflatable curtains. These side airbags deploy from the edge of the inside roof downward toward the head area. Curtain and tubular side airbags are extremely effective with reducing the injury to the head and helping to keep passengers in the vehicle during a rollover crash. Several tests have been performed to verify the effectiveness of such airbags. In an experiment involving Ford's Escape, the vehicle received a “poor” on the moderate to severe side impact crashes. When the Escape was tested with a side airbag in place, it received a score of “good.” The effectiveness of side airbags is already being detected. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that side airbags that have head protection are reducing the amount of fatalities by 45 percent! As of 2003, 40 percent of all passenger vehicles offered head-protecting side airbags; however, they were not required or tested by the NHTSA.
Advanced Frontal Airbags
Because airbag technology constantly improves to meet the needs of vehicle passengers, new airbags are currently being developed. Advanced frontal airbags have the technology to determine if the airbags are necessary to deploy and with what force. This determination is based on the occupant's size and weight, seat position, seat belt usage, and the severity of the crash. These airbags, which are currently available, are more effective than the current airbag system. The NHTSA fully accepts advanced frontal airbags and demands that all vehicles manufactured after September, 2006, have the airbags. You can determine if your vehicle has advanced frontal airbags by checking your owner's manual.
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