Airbags

Got a question?

Find answers to the following questions about airbags.

• Are airbags unsafe?
• Can an airbag smother me?
• Do airbags only go off in high speed collisions?
• Can’t airbags cause injuries too?
• I just bought a used car. How can I tell if the airbag’s working?
• Is my child safe with an airbag?

Are airbags unsafe?

They can be. Protect yourself with some simple safety tips.

• Get some distance between yourself and the airbag so you’re only contacting it when it’s fully or almost fully inflated.
• Sit at least 10 inches away from the steering wheel airbag and wear your seatbelts for the most protection from injuries. Sitting any closer than 10 inches puts you (or your passengers) at risk of making contact with the airbag while it's inflating.
• Passenger side airbags are larger so passengers should move the vehicle seat back as far as possible to provide plenty of room.

All new passenger cars, light trucks and vans now come with airbags in the steering wheel hub and in the passenger dashboard. Side airbags and side curtains are mounted in the doors, seats or roof rails. If you have side airbags in your vehicle, read the owner's manual before installing child seats.

Can an airbag smother me?

Quick deceleration caused by a crash triggers the airbag. It needs to inflate quickly because it has to be fully expanded so it can cushion you as you get thrown forward. But they also have vents so they deflate as soon as absorbing the hit. They cannot smother you and they don't restrict your movement.

Do airbags only go off in high speed collisions?

No. Airbags can also deploy in low-speed collisions (sometimes as low as 15 km/h), so be careful.

Can’t airbags cause injuries too?

Because they inflate so rapidly and with such force, they can cause injuries, but mostly, just minor abrasions and bruises. Some, however, can be serious or even fatal.

I just bought a used car. How can I tell if the airbag’s working?

It's not always easy to tell, but your vehicle has an airbag if:

• You see the initials SRS (for Supplemental Restraint System) or SIR (for Supplemental Inflatable Restrain) on the steering wheel or dash.
• There’s an airbag indicator light on the dashboard. This will be a pictogram or the word airbag, that comes on for a few seconds, when the ignition key is turned on, and then goes out. When the light’s on, the vehicle computer is checking the system. It checks out, the light goes out. If it doesn’t, it will flash a "trouble code" until the problem is fixed. If the indicator light stays on, or continues to flash off and on for more than a few seconds, this may mean there’s a problem with the airbag system that needs to be fixed before you buy the car. If the light NEVER comes on, it may indicate a serious problem. If the airbag is missing, the bulb may have been removed so it cannot flash its warning to you. If the airbag bulb gone, don’t have anything to do with that car.

If you’re still not sure, check the vehicle owner's manual or call a dealer for that make of vehicle.

Is my child safe with an airbag?

Kids and airbags are a deadly combination. If an inflating airbag makes contact with an occupied rear-facing infant seat it can cause serious injuries and even death. Remember:

• Never install a rear-facing infant seat in a passenger seat that has an airbag.
• All children under 12 should always ride in the back seat.
  

You may want to consider using a second vehicle or having the airbag deactivated if your vehicle has no back seat or there are too many children for all to ride in the back. If your child’s got a medical condition that needs monitoring and must sit in the front seat, you should also have the airbag deactivated.

If deactivation is not an option, ensure that any toddler or older child sitting in the front seat is using a child seat appropriate for their weight and age and that the vehicle seat is moved as far back from the airbag as possible.

Don’t buy a car that doesn’t come with an airbag indicator light unless you get it checked by an independent mechanic, or preferably a dealer for that make of vehicle.

NEVER place a rear-facing infant seat in a vehicle seat equipped with an airbag.