What is Airbag?
History of Airbag
Working Principle of Airbag
-How does the airbag work?
-At what speed does the airbag open?
Where are airbags located?
In which situations does the airbag open?
When does the airbag not open?
Considerations for Vehicles with Airbags
Airbag – Seat Belt Relationship
Could airbags alone be enough?
Do airbags open when seat belts are not fastened?
Airbag Malfunctions
Why does the airbag light come on?
How to turn off airbag light
How long does the airbag last?
Airbag is the system that inflates by filling with air or gas during a collision and ensures the safety of the driver and passengers together with the seat belt. It opens in less than 1/10th of a second and prevents serious injuries.
History of Airbag
Its history dates back to World War II. It was used for the first time in warplanes. The first studies on vehicle airbags were made in the 1950s. Its type used today was introduced to the car user in 1980 with the Mercedes Benz W126 S-Class. Porsche is the first brand to use the passenger airbag.
Working Principle of Airbag
-How does it work?
- The car suddenly loses speed when subjected to impact.
- Electronic sensors detect speed change.
- The accelerometer measures the degree of impact. Its system is triggered if the car encounters a strong force.
- With the ignition of the chemical explosive, nitrogen or argon gas is rapidly filled into it.
- About 30-40 milliseconds after the accident, it inflates completely.
- After the impact, the gas in it is completely discharged through small holes.
-At what speed does it open?
They are designed to open above a certain speed. While this speed value is 20-25 km/h in Europe, it is 15-20 km/h in America.
Where are airbags located?
Automakers have started to use multiple airbags in cars to offer maximum safety to drivers and passengers.
Although the number and placement of airbags vary according to car models and equipment levels, they are generally as follows;
- Two front airbags
- Two airbags on the sides of the front seats
- Two airbags (curtain airbags) at the top of the front door frames
In which situations does it open?
- In frontal collisions; The driver’s front airbag and the front passenger’s front airbag open.
- In side collisions; The front side airbag on the accident side and the head airbag on the accident side open.
When does it not open?
-Firstly, in frontal collisions of mild severity,
-Secondly, in side collisions with mild severity,
-Thirdly, in rear collisions,
-In case the vehicle rolls over,
–Lastly, airbags won’t open if the vehicle rolls over.
Considerations for Vehicles with Airbags
There are some points that you should pay attention to for a safe ride in vehicles with airbags. In vehicles with airbags;
- The driver’s seat must be in an upright position.
- The driver should not sit too close to the steering wheel. There must be a distance of at least 25 cm between the steering wheel and the driver.
- Rule 9.15 should be applied while holding the steering wheel. In other words, the shape of the hands on the steering wheel should be as the clock shows 9.15.
- The seat belt must be properly fastened.
- Children should never sit in the front seat.
- The head restraints must be level with the head.
Airbag – Seat Belt Relationship
They are a safety system designed in addition to the seat belt.
Could airbags alone be enough?
You should also keep in mind that airbags, which ensure the safety of the driver and passengers, will not be sufficient alone in the event of an accident. They can do more harm than good if the seat belt is not fastened.
Seat belts keep the driver and passengers stable at a certain distance, while airbags slow down head movement and prevent injuries. Let’s assume that the seat belt was not fastened at the time of the accident. Since it will not be possible for you to remain stationary in the vehicle, the it opens violently may cause injury or throw you in another direction, resulting in fatal results.
Do airbags open when seat belts are not fastened?
Another confusing issue with airbags is whether they will oepn when the seat belt is not fastened. Airbags and seat belts work independently of each other in most vehicles today. However, it is useful to carefully read the booklet describing your car’s seat belt system. Because in some new generation cars, airbags work with the weight principle. In order for the airbags to activate in these cars, conditions such as properly fastened seat belts, feet on the floor, and a nearly vertical inclination of the seat can be required.
Airbag Malfunctions
From time to time, malfunctions may occur with the airbag system.
Why does the airbag light come on?
The most common problems with airbags are:
1) The sensor sockets located under the armpits may be loose, worn or broken.
2) If your vehicle has been in an accident before and it opened, it may not be fully repaired.
3) Its firing resistance may be high.
4) The cables in it wrap may be broken or frayed.
How to turn off airbag light
If the airbag light, called SRS, is on or flashing, this means that you should have your vehicle’s airbags checked by an authorized service. It will not be the right move to try to repair it, since it is your security.
How long does it last?
When the airbags are over 10 years old, the probability of you encountering problems such as not deploying, bursting-tearing or untimely deployment increases. For this reason, you should have the airbags checked at the authorized service centers at least once every 10 years.
