WHAT IS AIRBAG IN CAR

Essential safety features in cars protect you from skating on the thin ice. In automobiles, airbags have been made obligatory to protect front occupants in the car. Various types of airbags significantly reduce the injury risks at the time of collision.

Today, we are going to have an understanding about the airbags in cars and how they function.

Let’s dig a little deeper.

 

What are Car Airbags?

Over the past few days, we are receiving the updated driving traffic rules in terms of road safety. Enhancement of safety features while driving in India impacts the system. This is not just due to the alteration of the rules but also due to advanced safety accessories.

As per genuine sources, it has been recognized that airbags have improved vehicle passenger safety significantly. 

Till 2020, more than 13,000 lives have been saved in India. The figure is calculated on the basis of analyzing accidents that happen in side collisions or front vehicles.

Up to 2024, driver deaths are lessened by 29% in front crash events. Additionally, airbags have protected 13% of the passengers from accidents. It implies that using airbags significantly reduces accidents. Plus, it improves passengers’ and drivers’ safety.

Let’s have an example.

If any vehicle suddenly comes from the front while driving, an accident occurs. In such cases, passengers inside the car get head injuries.

In another situation, when the car hits a tree, the first thing that happens is the head injury. Apart from this, the passenger's neck, spine, or knee can bang on the car's interior.

To prevent these injuries, airbags are installed in cars. Soft air-filled cushions protect the upper body from getting injured.

From this, we need to understand that despite having seat belts used in cars, airbags play a key role. Hence, considering these points, manufacturers are launching cars with airbag systems.

Technically, an airbag in a car is an expandable cushion. It protects passengers and drivers from colliding with the other vehicle/object/tree. Generally, it is designed to work with seat belts inside the car. By law, expensive cars must have airbags now. 

 

Types of Airbag Systems

A super quick deployment of airbags can safeguard your vehicle and you too. Let’s have an understanding about the different types of airbags in the cars.

1. Front Airbags:

These air filled cushions you can find on the steering and dashboards on the passenger side. As its name suggests, front airbags deliver security to passengers sitting at the front of the car.

2. Side Airbags:

Side airbags are responsible for securing passengers if the car gets a high side impact in case of an accident. You can find it on the side of the seat.

3. Knee Airbags:

This type of airbag is specifically made to secure passengers' knees from getting injured. You can find it under the steering wheel or dashboard.

4. Curtain Airbags:

Curtain bags are located on the roof of the car. It's a protection towards the passenger's head. It shouldn't get injured and passengers remain safe. It deploys like a curtain, and hence it is named as curtain airbags.

 

Benefits of Having Airbags in a Car

The consistently proven safety testing cars are considered the safest cars.

Let’s comprehend how the use of airbags in cars proves beneficial. Below are the advantages of having airbags in a car.

• Incorporating airbags inside the cars minimizes the crash impact in case of accidents. The collision force gets absorbed by the airbag and so avoids injury.
• Airbag functions in conjunction with the seat belts. Therefore, it provides extra protection to passengers. It reduces the risk of getting facial, chest, or neck injury.
• Various types of airbags inside the car protect passengers from all sides. Front airbag secures driver and passengers from front side collision. Side airbags secure passengers from side collisions. Curtain airbags prevent passengers from head injuries.
• Airbags are also beneficial to gain higher car safety ratings. Cars consisting of airbags are always considered reliable and secure.

A car consisting of an airbag must omit distraction and fatigue. You can take it as one of the night driving safety tips.

 

How do Front Airbags Work?

Front Airbags work with the technology. Its working process includes-

1. Sensors:

Special sensors are attached to the front area in the car. It detects how much force has been applied to get a car crash.

2. Signal to Inflate:

When the sensor gets to know the force exactly, it sends signals to the airbag control unit. It results in airbag inflation.

3. Chemical Reaction:

The airbag control unit comprises an explosive device. It ignites the sodium azide producing nitrogen gas.

4. Immediate Inflation:

Airbags quickly start to inflate once the nitrogen gas fills. Within 40 milliseconds, the cushion gets inflated like a balloon. 

 

Deflation:

Once the airbags absorb the force, they immediately deflate via vents. Helping the passengers to move safely is its objective.

In modern cars, there is a safety belt sensor. It uses an algorithm to detect whether the passengers have worn a seatbelt or not.

For un-belt passengers, airbags will deploy only when the car gets crashed with 10 to 12 mph force on any rigid surface.

 

How do Side Airbags Work?

Let’s appreciate the functioning of side airbags in cars.

- Sensor Detection:

Like front airbags, side airbags also have special sensors. It sends the signal to the airbag control unit once it detects a side force.

- Inflation:

When the force is detected, sodium azide gets ignited which generates nitrogen gas. Due to this, the airbag gets inflated like a balloon.

- Deployment:

The side airbag gets inflated fast and delivers immediate protection in the event of a crash. It protects passengers from getting hurt and lets them escape.

As it's a side airbag, the cushion gets expanded from the side of the passenger and driver. The cushion gets inflated between the window and passenger/driver. So that their head shouldn't strike the window and get hurt.

 

Car Airbags- FAQs

1. How Car Airbags Work?

There are the sensors that deliver electric signals to the inflator. It burns up chemical reactions to generate nitrogen gas. Due to this, the airbag gets inflated within a fraction of second.

2. Can I Drive a Car with Airbag Lights On?

Yes, you can drive a car with airbag lights on. But it is not suggested to do so. Because, in such a situation, airbags won't deploy if the collision occurs.

3. What Airbag Warning Light?

Airbag Warning Light is an alert that indicates a big issue with the airbag system. It is placed on the car’s dashboard. It is also called a Supplemental Restraint System (SRS).

4. How Much Does it Cost to Replace Airbags?

Replacing an airbag cost may vary and is based on the car model. Many car insurance policies cover the airbag replacement cost when an accident occurs. 

5. At What Speed Do Airbags Open?

Airbags get open at 10 to 12 mph speed if the occupants are unbelted. If they wore the seatbelts, the airbags would open at 16 mph speed.

6. Are Airbags Safer than Seat Belts?

No, experts say that seatbelts are safer than airbags. Airbags are a supplementary security with a seatbelt. Wearing a seatbelt turns down the death risk in an accident.