Things to note when using car airbags

Airbags are passive devices that are hidden in some locations inside the vehicle's cabin and chassis. When a dangerous incident occurs, the airbag system will inflate to create an air cushion to help reduce injuries to the occupants of the vehicle and quickly deflate. In some countries, airbags are mandatory equipment in vehicles along with seat belts. Depending on the type and installation location, airbags have different protective effects.

Although it is a safety support device, when using airbags, users still need to pay attention to the following points so that the airbags work effectively and avoid unnecessary accidents.

Always wear your seat belt

Always wearing a seat belt is one of the principles of using airbags in cars. Wearing a seat belt will help to maximize the effectiveness of the airbags. Car airbags are always tested with seat belts, and some cars do not even activate the airbags if the seat belt is not worn.

When wearing a seat belt, the occupant is not thrown violently towards the deployed airbag. Therefore, the occupant will not suffer serious injuries to the face and chest area. Therefore, wear a seat belt even if the vehicle is not equipped with airbags.

Sit in the correct posture

Passengers in the car need to pay attention to sitting in the correct position. The person sitting in the front passenger seat should not rest his feet on the dashboard area of ​​the car. Because this is an area equipped with airbags, in case of a collision, the pressure from the airbag explosion can break the legs.

For drivers, the seat should be adjusted so that it is not too close to the steering wheel, at least 25 cm away from the steering wheel (from the center of the steering wheel to the driver's chest) to prevent the airbag from deploying and causing dangerous injuries. Furthermore, if the driver sits too close to the steering wheel, the airbag will not have enough time to fully deploy and create a safe enough cushion to protect.

Do not place objects on the airbag surface.

Many people often place decorations on the dashboard without realizing that this can be dangerous in the event of a collision. If a collision occurs, the airbag will explode at a high speed, creating a very strong force. At that time, the decoration will be shot at high speed, endangering the people in the car.

Do not cross your hands on the steering wheel.

For safety reasons, drivers are advised to avoid crossing their arms on the steering wheel. If the airbag deploys, the force of the airbag explosion could injure the driver if the steering wheel is not held correctly.

Do not touch the air bag

Airbags explode when the gas inside the bag is activated by the ignition process. As a result, heat remains around the area of ​​the airbag after it explodes. To avoid burns, vehicle occupants should not touch the inside of the airbag.

Children sitting in the back seat

In the event of an accident, the force of the deployed airbag can be very dangerous for children sitting in the front seat. Therefore, children under 12 years old must sit in the back seat and be secured in a child seat to avoid injury.