Everything you need to know about airbags

The first airbags began springing up in cars in the s and have gone on to become a standard safety feature that have saved thousands of lives.

The inflatable cushions come in many shapes and sizes and appear in a growing number of locations in our cars.

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Here, we look at how they work, what happens when they go off and how effective they are in protecting drivers and passengers alike in our latest road safety guide.

What are airbags?

Airbags are an inflatable cushion designed to minimise injuries to drivers and their passengers. During a collision they inflate quickly to protect people inside a car from hitting hard surfaces such as steering wheels, dashboards and each other.

The safety features are designed to be used with seatbelts and crumple zones – areas of a car designed to absorb the impact of a collision – to improve car safety.

How do they work?

A modern airbag is made up of three parts:

• impact sensors
• an inflation module
• the bag itself

Impact sensors at different parts of a car will monitor the direction and severity of an impact to decide if, and which airbags need to be deployed. Inflation modules then inflate the fabric bags in 25 milliseconds at speeds of up to 160mph.

The idea is for the bags to be fully inflated and provide the driver and passengers with a cushion between hard surfaces. The bags immediately deflate to allow people to leave the car or for emergency services to respond to a situation.1

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Where can you find them?

When many of us think of airbags, we usually picture them inflating from our steering wheels. However, car manufacturers are fitting the bags in more places than you might think:

• Frontal airbags - found in the steering wheel and dashboard in front of the passenger’s seat
• Knee airbags - these are found beneath the steering column for the driver and at knee height on the dashboard in front of passengers
• Side airbags – these inflate from the doors of the car if the impact sensors detect a lateral, or side-on collision
• Centre airbags – your best defence against head contact between passengers and drivers, these inflate between the front two occupants during a lateral collision (sometimes known as ‘far-side airbags’)
• Curtain airbags – deploy from the roof or headliner above the doors and windows to protect people’s heads
• Seatbelt airbags – not as common as other airbags on our list, these provide extra protection for people’s torsos during a crash

What happens when an airbag goes off?

When an airbag goes off a chemical reaction will produce gas to fill the bag. The reaction, or explosion, may sound like a paper bag being burst but the sudden change is needed to inflate the airbag in time.

The bag will immediately deflate to minimise any impairing of your vision and to make it easier to exit your car. The inflation module generates a lot of heat and some people may suffer minor burns.2  

How effective are airbags?

Studies show that airbags are very effective when it comes to reducing fatalities and injuries in crashes.

A major study of collisions between and , found that airbags reduced fatalities by 24% in frontal crashes and 16% in all types of crashes.3 

According to the United States’ National Highway Traffic Administration frontal airbags alone saved 50,457 lives from to .4 The figure is likely to be much higher if airbags in different locations were also included.

This data was also referenced in The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROPSA) report on airbags in March .

Futhermore, it stated: "Studies indicate that there may be a correlation between height, weight and driver injuries from airbags.Shorter (under 160cms) and lighter (under 55kgs) drivers who sit closer to the steering wheel are more likely to suffer more injuries from airbags."

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Should you service your airbags?

Airbags should last as long as the vehicle they were originally fitted to. 

Despite initial ideas that they had a shelf life of around 10 years, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders changed their advice on their lifespan in .

The industry body said that the service requirement has been “totally phased out” because airbags had stood the test of time and were intended to last the lifetime of a car, unless damaged, without the need for servicing.5

The only time you need to check your airbags is when the warning light illuminates on your dashboard. If it does, you’ll need to visit a trustworthy garage.

According to ROPSA's advice from , 'airbags should be replaced if they deploy and most manufacturers recommend replacement of unused airbags after 10 years'.

Drivers should always check and follow the manufacturer’s guidance found in the owner's manual.

Book a car service today

It’s easy to book a service online at one of our local approved garages. Find a trusted local garage with the RAC stamp of approval.

Can I get airbags checked in a normal service?

Although a car service may vary by garage, most will not check your airbags. 

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If you’ve noticed your airbag warning light has turned on, or have other concerns about your airbag, you should point the specific problem out to a trained mechanic.

Can I remove airbags myself or switch them off?

Some cars have a switch that allows drivers to switch off their airbags for the passenger seats. The decision shouldn’t be taken lightly and should only be used if the airbag poses a safety threat to vulnerable passengers.

If you do use the switch, make sure that you turn it back on when it’s safe to do so – otherwise, the next person to use that seat will be more vulnerable to injury.

Drivers should only remove or switch off airbags if they could hurt certain passengers, such as a child in a rear-facing child seat.

Some manufacturers might agree to disconnect your airbag or install a cut-off switch but will probably ask the vehicle owner to take responsibility for any effect the decision has on other drivers and passengers.

All airbags should be reconnected before a car is sold.6

Can you replace an airbag?

Airbags can be replaced but it’s best to enlist the help of a trained professional. It’s also important that you never use second-hand airbag parts.

The safety features could save your life in an accident one day, so you want to be sure that they’re fitted properly.

1. https://www.rospa.com/media/documents/road-safety/airbags-factsheet.pdf2. https://www.rospa.com/media/documents/road-safety/airbags-factsheet.pdf3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov//4. https://www.nhtsa.gov/equipment/air-bags5. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news//Out-of-date-airbags-should-not-need-replacing.html6. https://www.childcarseats.org.uk/choosing-using/airbags-and-child-seats/

RAC sale – up to 33% off*

• Roadside cover from £5.49 a month*

• We get to most breakdowns in 60 mins or less

• Our patrols fix 4/5 breakdowns on the spot

*T&Cs apply. †At least 10% of new customers pay this for single-vehicle Roadside (Basic). Not on sale.

The advancement of car technology has made us a lot safer than we were in the past century. Cars now come with a lot of safety features that can save us in case of accidents that can otherwise be fatal. Airbag is one great innovation that ensures our safety on the road. Each year, they save millions of lives the world over. This is why they come as standard features in most cars now.

However, while on the one hand, they are a lifesaver, on the other, they can be a real danger, if not used properly. There are certain things that you need to keep in mind regarding this safety device, to make them work in your favor. Else, it can jeopardize your life.

So, here are a few things that you must understand.

Understand THIS about an Airbag

When it comes to understanding this device technically, you must understand the function that it performs. They are not total protection, but a supplement safety device instead. The very word “supplemental” means that it functions in tandem with other safety devices in the car. Without those other devices, they may very well cause harm when they unfurl in case of an accident. This is why you need to take certain safety precautions to prevent any sort of harm or injury thereby.

See more:

• 5 Golden Rules for Seat Belt Safety
• Important Safety Tips for Driving in the Rain

Airbag Safety Rules That You Definitely Need to Know

Having understood why you must take certain preemptive measures, here are 6 rules that you must follow by all means:

1. Always use seat belt without exception

During each trip, whether long or short, even if a few meters long, wear a seat belt. This applies to the driver as well as the passengers. Buckling up is important because you don’t want the force of the accident to throw you into the rapidly inflating airbag. If that happens, you could face some serious injury. To be honest, whether or not you have the airbag feature in your car, always follow this safety driving advice.

2. Follow the minimum distance rule

Experts recommend that adults sit at a minimum distance of 10 inches from the steering wheel (between the center of the wheel and the chest). It is the same for 12 years or older children.

One way to ensure this distance is to push your seat as further back as possible while your feet reach the pedals, comfortably. Also, make sure that you can reach the steering wheel with straight arms without bending or stretching.

3. Don’t keep the back of the seat totally upright

Do not drive with the back of the seat upright to further yourself from the steering wheel. Recline a little to ensure that you are at a safe distance from the airbags. If that makes it difficult for you to see the road, place a comfortable and non-slip cushion on the seat. This way you will be able to recline the back and raise your height.

4. Seat children under 12 in the rear seats (in car seats and boosters)

The impact of an extremely rapidly inflating airbag can be brutal on children if they are seated in the front seat. Children younger than 12 years must be seated in the rear seats, carefully secured in car seats or boosters as the law of the land prescribes. You must, in fact, always follow all safety tips when driving with children.

5. Adjust the steering wheel If there is a feature

If you have a telescopic steering wheel in your car, it is always a plus point. This feature allows you to tilt the wheel up or down. If you are driving, tilting it downwards can be a great trick to bring the airbag to the level of your chest. Otherwise, it is the fact that the airbag aims. Doing so will help you escape any injury on the face or neck due to the deployed airbag.

6. Make sure you learn about the safety features when you buy a car

Most new cars come with this safety feature. At the time of purchasing a car, make sure that you go the extra mile to learn about all its safety features including this one. Even if you are not buying a brand-new car, there is a wide variety of old cars with airbags that have been on the market for years. Ask the previous owner for the current state of the car’s safety features. And, don’t forget to read the owner’s manual.

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If you want to learn more, please visit our website Airbags For Trucks(in,ar,ru).

Some Facts About Airbag Safety

• Some vehicles offer an on-off switch that can control the airbag function. However, you have to be physically eligible for it. Such provision stands for those drivers who are (due to physical factors) unable to keep the requisite 10-inch distance. Certain other medical conditions are also considered before this switch is allowed to function.
• Side airbags are also available now in a lot of newer car models. Certain older ones also feature them. These may turn out to be effective in case the collision involves impact on the sides.
• Adaptive front airbag systems are also an option. These are not featured in all the new cars but some do feature these. This system gradually adjusts the pressure of inflation thus reducing the risk of injury due to airbags.