Passenger airbags - why?

[BTB 500]

I can see the point in a driver's airbag ... you've got a dirty great steering wheel just in front of you.

But assuming your passenger is wearing a seatbelt with pretensioners etc., they're not going to get anywhere near the dashboard (or anything else solid) in a frontal impact.

I did a quick search and the DfT seem to (cautiously) agree with this

Many new cars are now available with front passenger airbags. There is currently too little data to draw firm conclusions, but as passengers are at less risk of hitting the dashboard, the benefits of passengers' airbags may be more limited.

There are of course several disadvantages to passenger airbags, hence the various threads here about disabling them ... seat sensors ... etc.

Discuss!

 

[kikkthecat]

Towards the back end of W124 production a passenger airbag replaced the glove box.
My first coupe had a glovebox, the cabriolet and current coupe dont, just a small lockable box between the front seats.

I must admit I thought airbags for passengers had been researched and identified as necessary or at least much safer. Personally I'd rather have the glovebox for the storage space it offers.

Strangely enough I dont know anyone who uses a glovebox for gloves.

 

[Dieselman]

I thought the job of the airbag was to offer universal support and deceleration for the occupants to reduce whiplash and G-force injuries, this doesn't only apply to the driver..

Racing drivers can die due to the brain stem tearing outand they certainly don't hit the steering wheel, that's what the hans device is there for.

 

[DieselE]

Airbags were originally targetted at the American market where the percentage of non-seatbelt wearers is (or was) much higher than here. Even the driver, if wearing a properly fitting seatbelt, correctly adjusted seat etc, is unlikely to hit the steering wheel.

I think the side airbags have some merit in protecting occupants from flying glass etc.

 

[grober]

Essential aid to safety!!

Even if your body is restrained from the shoulders down, your head isn't. Since your head is unrestrained it continues forward leading to massive strain on the neck vertebrae and associated ligaments etc. You get a massive whip lash effect which wont kill you but may well cause considerable long term damage.
The airbag essentially prevents this head "flail effect" and is extremely effective in preventing passenger neck damage. Have a look at the REVAMPED EURO NCAP site. It now has video of the latest crash tests which gives a good idea of head movement. Have a look at the M CLASS video here. http://www.euroncap.com/tests/mercedes_benz_m_class_2002/145.aspx
Compare the head movement of the adults with airbags in the front to the child head movement in the rear child seat to get an idea.

 

[KillerHERTZ]

After the W202 had a passenger Airbag in the post 96 models, the Glove Box became a Glove box, nothing bigger would fit in it.

On the Audi A8, it has curtain bags, and warns agaist putting your head on the window eg, someone sleeping in the back.

When will it get to the point when all you can do is sit bolt upright!?

 

[Kompressor_Dude]

I've been in an accident as a passenger with no airbag, i was knocked unconscious, badly whiplashed, bruised and have a scar on my face because airbags werent fitted. I agree that they can cause injuries in themselves, but now i'd always rather have them there than not!

Even if there isnt contact with the actual dashboard it's often the deceleration which causes the worst injuries. I cant believe anyone would disable them! even after my severe knock on the head im not convinced that I know better than the people who build cars to NCAP safety regulations!

 

[MBManInKen]

On the Audi A8, it has curtain bags

My Merc has window bags too you know .

 

[gina2201]

After the W202 had a passenger Airbag in the post 96 models, the Glove Box became a Glove box, nothing bigger would fit in it.

My old '94 c class had a passenger airbag.....and the "glove box" is useless! Can't even fit a cd in there! Paperwork at most!

I have been in an accident, but the car didn't have airbags or anything, thankfully I got away with a scarred elbow, even though I rolled and wrote off the car (!!) all I had was a seatbelt which I have no doubt as to it saving my life.....

 

[Benzowner]

I am not too sure, but I thought passenger airbags were installed primarilly to help the driver if, in the event of an accident, he/she went sideways and then forward. The lap part of the belt would restrain the hips and lower body but there would be little to stop the upper part of the body with the cosequent and possibly severe injuries.

 

[MBManInKen]

I am not too sure, but I thought passenger airbags were installed primarilly to help the driver

That doesn't sound right to be honest. In fact, isn't the passenger side airbag disabled if there is no one in the seat?

 

[gina2201]

Surely passenger airbags are there to do just that, help the passenger?

And I doubt my car would have the technology to detect whether someone was in the passenger seat or not...I appreciate newer models probaby do.

 

[MBManInKen]

Right, just checked my manual: "The front passenger airbag will only be triggered if the front passenger seat is actually occupied".

My car also has 4 sidebags (in each door) and 2 window (curtain) airbags.

"The front passenger sidebag will only trigger if the front passenger seat is actually occupied"

"The rear sidebags will trigger if the sensors located there detect a side impact"

"The rear-seat sidebag on the driver's side will trigger if the driver's sidebag is triggered"

"The windowbags are designed to trigger in addition to the sidebags on the side where a side impact has occurred."

 

[timskemp]

Having been in a bags-out crash (as driver, with friend in passenger seat) in a Rover 75 I'll testify to the fact that they certainly help minimise injury - it's estimated we left the road at 40-50mph and hit a tree head on shortly after, both of use just opened the doors and walked away (well, fell into the ditch the car had flown over).

Bags / Tensioners / seatbelts, and we were both completely uninjured.

 

[MBManInKen]

(well, fell into the ditch the car had flown over)

 

[Dieselman]

Having been in a bags-out crash (as driver, with friend in passenger seat) in a Rover 75 I'll testify to the fact that they certainly help minimise injury - it's estimated we left the road at 40-50mph and hit a tree head on shortly after, both of use just opened the doors and walked away (well, fell into the ditch the car had flown over).

Bags / Tensioners / seatbelts, and we were both completely uninjured.

Nice driving Tim.

Can we expect you to be crash test dummy for all new safety innovations.

Next time we need video..

 

[timskemp]

Nice driving Tim.

Can we expect you to be crash test dummy for all new safety innovations.

Next time we need video..

Heh - I do occasionally make videos of my driving...

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=75935048563214334

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8719080566000832223

Hard to imagine the A class being so much quicker than the volvo...

 

[BTB 500]

Hmm ... I'm still not convinced. It's backward movement of the head that causes the serious neck damage; this is usually from a rear impact (particularly if the head restraint isn't properly adjusted).

Rear seats never have airbags, yet aren't they considered to be "safest"?

 

[Dieselman]

Hmm ... I'm still not convinced. It's backward movement of the head that causes the serious neck damage; this is usually from a rear impact (particularly if the head restraint isn't properly adjusted).

Rear seats never have airbags, yet aren't they considered to be "safest"?

Only because there is more car to be destroyed before the impact gets to the rear seat occupants..

 

[MBManInKen]

It's backward movement of the head that causes the serious neck damage;

While rear movement can be quite damaging, the same goes for forward movement and banging your head against glass or steel. Seat belts are considered the prime safety feature, but that does not mean airbags have no role to play.