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[Content] Introduction The Airbag System for Frontal Crashes What Happens After a Deployment? |
New Technologies
Advanced Air Bag Technologies Many advanced air bag technologies are being developed to tailor air bag deployment to the severity of the crash, the size and posture of the vehicle occupant, belt usage and how close that person is to the air bag module. Many of these systems will use multi-stage inflators that deploy less forcefully in stages in moderate crashes than in very severe crashes. Occupant sensing devices let the air bag diagnostic unit know if someone is occupying a seat in front of an air bag, whether the person is an adult or a child, whether a seat belt or child restraint is being used and whether the person is forward in the seat and close to the air bag module. Based on this information and crash severity information, the air bag is deployed at either a high force level, a less forceful level or not at all. For evaluating advanced air bag systems, laboratory tests utilizing a family of crash test dummies will be required.  In addition to tests using a dummy representing an average adult male, future air bag systems will be tested with a small adult female dummy and dummies representing one, three and six year old children. These new NHTSA requirements are being phased in over the next several years with some vehicles already in production.However, even with advanced air bag technologies, children ages 12 and under should always ride in a rear seating position in an appropriate restraint system. Side and Rollover Air Bags Many new vehicles are also equipped with side air bags. While there are several types of side air bags, all are designed to reduce the risk of injury in moderate to severe side impact crashes. These air bags are generally located in the outboard edge of the seat back, in the door or in the roof rail above the door. Seat and door-mounted air bags all provide upper body protection. Some also extend upwards to provide head protection. Two types of side air bags, known as inflatable tubular structures and inflatable curtains, are specifically designed to reduce the risk of head injury and/or help keep the head and upper body inside the vehicle. A few vehicles are now being equipped with a different type of inflatable curtain designed to help reduce injury and ejection from the vehicle in rollover crashes. Read your owner's manual for specific information about the air bags in your vehicle. Unlike front air bags, side air bags are neither required nor regulated by NHTSA. At NHTSA's request, a Technical Working Group representing automakers, air bag suppliers and independent safety organizations has developed comprehensive uniform test procedures for side air bags. The test procedures will help air bag designers to evaluate the risk of inflation-related injuries to out-of-position occupants, particularly children and small adults, and to design systems that minimize these risks. All vehicle manufacturers have agreed to utilize these tests when designing future side air bag systems. While side air bags are smaller than front air bags, they must deploy very rapidly. Close proximity of a child's head, neck or chest to a side air bag may cause serious injury. Therefore, it is important never to lean up against or rest against a side air bag. Seat belts (or child restraints as appropriate) should always be worn to avoid possible injury by keeping enough distance between the occupant and the side air bag module. If you transport children and are thinking about buying a car with side air bags in rear seating positions, check the vehicle and child restraint manufacturers' recommendations for child restraint use in that vehicle. |
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