Airbags were created in the 1970s, although previous versions existed before they became standard equipment in most modern vehicles. There are three types of airbags in use today: frontal, side-impact/door bolsters, and knee bolster.
Types of Car Air Bags – Facts and Figures
Frontal, side-impact/door bolster and knee bolster airbags have made a difference in reducing injuries due to accidents. According to NHTSA , drivers and passengers involved in frontal collisions that ended up with the deployment of their front room airbag showed about 30% fewer lower extremity injuries from the knees down as well as a 29% reduction in injuries to the shin area. However, drivers who had no front or side-impact airbags had an 88% increase in sustaining leg injuries from the knees down as well as a 50% increase of those injured in the shins.
Frontal Air Bags
Almost all new cars come equipped with driver and front-passenger airbags that deploy from the steering wheel or dashboard during a crash to restrain the occupants' upper bodies. Some vehicles have multiple airbags located throughout the car controlling both front impacts and side impacts. These airbags are meant to reduce head injuries by preventing them from hitting something hard inside the vehicle during an accident. Most frontal airbag deployments are based on vehicle speed or occupant weight. A belt pre-tensioner is sometimes used in conjunction with the frontal airbag to reduce seat belt slack and keep occupants from striking interior parts of the vehicle during a crash.
Side-Impact Air Bags
Side impact airbags, also known as door bolster airbags, are usually found on the sides near doors and deploy quickly when an occupant is struck by another object during a side-impact collision. These types of airbags prevent occupants from being thrown from their vehicles and hit other parts of the car or even other cars in traffic. In many cases, it can save lives.
Knee Bolster Air Bags
In addition to front and side-impact airbags, some newer vehicles have knee bolsters that inflate when a frontal collision is detected. These air bags are meant to reduce leg injuries by preventing the knee from contacting the dashboard or steering wheel during a crash. Some knee airbags are combined with a frontal airbag to provide enhanced occupant protection.
Also Read: All About Car Aerodynamics
Vehicle
safety has improved very much, but still many people get hurt each year. The
injuries that are suffered by the occupants often depend on how well the
airbags performed; this varies significantly between different accidents.
Airbags work
very well when they deploy correctly and do not pose a risk to an occupant.
This is why it is important to properly maintain your vehicle so malfunctions
don't occur while you are driving. However, if you hit something or someone at
high speed while there were no airbags deployed, the consequences could be
serious.