Richard

GrahamH · 5 Nov 2008

Can't remember where I saw it but in the UK and Europe as well airbags are designed to work in conjunction with seat belts, as most in most countries seat belt usage is mandatory.

So by not wearing a seat belt the airbag will not be as affective.

The article I saw was about problems in America were seat belts are not normally worn and they had to change the speed and force of the inflation of the airbag. This then resulted in people suffering cracked rib and other injuries.

A final point is no extra momentum is gained if you do not wear a seat belt. If you hit something at 50mph you will continue on at that speed until something slows you down, seat belt, air bag air resistance etc... You do not magically gain any other speed.

Digit · 5 Nov 2008

A point here is that some cars enable you to disable passenger air bags 'cos of the perceived risk to small passengers.

Roy.

Shadowfax · 5 Nov 2008

OK, I should not have said anything about gaining extra momentum. That is another thing entirely.
What seems to be missing here is an acceptance that to be strapped into a moving vehicle is much better for you if you hit something.
Whatever the speed the body will attempt to keep moving. If it does not get the chance to make a lot more progress (as is the case with a seat belt) the chances of survival are much improved. That cannot be in dispute.
The fact that internal organs will be affected in the same way and will only be stopped when they run out of space or become mashed or whatever also cannot be in dispute.
It is the initial restraint that makes the difference at the moment of impact. That is why seat belts are designed to tighten upon impact.
They also keep the victim away from the air bag for as long as possible.
This means that the body hits the bag as it starts to deflate.
Rescuers have been killed by air bags and supplementary restraining devices. They are so dangerous if encountered at the wrong time.
I don't know how Richard died. I don't think many people will take much notice of the ad anyway. I reckon there are too many scare stories being rammed down our throats already. Pictures will do nothing to convince those who do not wear a belt to do so. Perhaps they should be taken to see the real thing on a dark wet night on a motorway somewhere. That might produce a whole different effect!
Just my thoughts, anyway.

SF

Digit · 5 Nov 2008

Correct SF.
If space was available the best safety device would something that decelerated the body at low G figures independent of what the forces were on the vehicle.
Basically that is what the air bag attempts to do.

Roy.

Vormulac · 6 Nov 2008

Shadowfax":h39jtcvl said:
Rescuers have been killed by air bags and supplementary restraining devices. They are so dangerous if encountered at the wrong time.
SF

I used to work for an automotive components supplier and developing airbag systems was part of what we did. Whenever they were test deploying one everyone got a priority warning over the email system and when it did go off you could hear it everywhere in the building - if you were in one of the adjacent rooms/corridors you could feel it go off! Dangerous if deployed inappropriately, but I'm very happy that I drive a car that has them installed!

Smudger is right when he says the airbag isn't a restraint, it's a cushion, a deceleration aid, nothing more.

Anyway, not sure what we're achieving here, seatbelt and airbag = good.