Can an airbag be dangerous in a car?
The danger of the devices is that they are activated in unexpected circumstances: a heavy object fell on the hood, a car got into a pit with a wheel or landed abruptly when crossing tram rails.
Ever since the creation of the first "self-propelled wheelchair", engineers have been struggling with the problem of reducing the threat to human life as a result of injuries in inevitable accidents. The fruit of the work of the best minds was the Airbag system, which saved millions of people in traffic accidents. But the paradox is that modern airbags often themselves cause injuries and additional injuries to passengers and the driver. Therefore, the question arises of how dangerous an airbag in a car can be.
Airbag Dangers
Reasons why an inflatable protective equipment can become a source of danger:
- Departure speed. Air PB at the time of the collision is triggered at lightning speed - 200-300 km / h. In 30-50 milliseconds, the nylon bag is filled up to 100 liters of gas. If the driver or passenger were not wearing seat belts or sitting too close to the airbag, then instead of softening the blow, they get a traumatic effect.
- Harsh sound. The fuse in the squib works with a sound comparable to an explosion. It happened that a person died not from injuries, but from a heart attack provoked by strong cotton.
- System malfunction. The car owner may not know that the PB is not in working order. This circumstance applies not only to used cars, but also to new cars.
The most common damage caused by airbags
After such cases of injury, it is pointless to look for a departure that the driver and his companions did not know or ignored the rules of conduct in a car equipped with airbags.
Airbag danger
The list of injuries received includes:
- Burns. They are received by people who are closer than 25 cm from the devices: at the time of the explosion, the gases are very hot.
- Hand injuries. Do not cross your arms on the steering wheel, do not change the natural position of the steering column: the air bag will go at the wrong angle and thereby provoke damage to the joints.
- Leg injuries. Do not throw your legs on the dashboard: a pillow escaping at high speed can break bones.
- Head and neck injuries. Incorrect landing in relation to the PB is fraught with fractures of the jaw bones, cervical spine, and clavicles. Do not hold hard objects in your mouth, and if you have poor eyesight, wear glasses with polycarbonate lenses.
Also be aware that a hard bulky load on your knees is very likely to cause damage to your ribs and internal organs from a deployed airbag.
