Why are there side curtain airbags in cars?
Why are there side curtain airbags in cars?
In the effort to develop safer cars, it might seem as if automobile manufacturers will stuff an airbag anywhere it will fit. One such recent innovation, the side curtain airbag, has proven to be quite valuable and versatile. For several years, the side curtain airbag has earned higher safety ratings for passenger cars and minivans.
What happens when an airbag deploys on the passenger side?
On the passenger side, an airbag rips through the dashboard when it deploys. On a side impact, an airbag may tear through the seat cover on its way out. And side curtain airbags destroy the headliner. These make collision repair costs increase substantially.
When do side curtain airbags deflate after impact?
When the bags deploy, they remain inflated longer than their non-rollover counterparts to compensate for the additional time vehicle occupants are in danger. Regular airbags deflate immediately after the impact, usually less than a second after they are deployed.
Why are there no airbags in my car?
Your car is not equipped with side airbags, or contains inadequate side airbags. Side airbags and rollover airbags are not required by the federal government. However, many cars are equipped with side airbags, which help to reduce injuries in case of a side impact collision. Airbags deploy late.
How are side curtain airbags designed to deploy?
Side curtain airbags can be designed to deploy in a rollover crash. Sensors that measure a vehicle’s sideways movement and tilting can detect if a rollover is about to occur, triggering deployment.
On the passenger side, an airbag rips through the dashboard when it deploys. On a side impact, an airbag may tear through the seat cover on its way out. And side curtain airbags destroy the headliner. These make collision repair costs increase substantially.
How many lives have been saved by side curtain airbags?
A side curtain airbag used to meet the federal safety standard to prevent occupant ejection remains inflated for more than 10 seconds, covering multiple rolls of the vehicle, and keeps occupants contained inside. NHTSA estimates that as of 2017, 50,457 lives have been saved by frontal airbags ( National Center for Statistics and Analysis, 2020 ).
Your car is not equipped with side airbags, or contains inadequate side airbags. Side airbags and rollover airbags are not required by the federal government. However, many cars are equipped with side airbags, which help to reduce injuries in case of a side impact collision. Airbags deploy late.
