Airbags in Cars: Complete Guide to Working, Types and Cost

What is an Airbag in Cars?

An airbag is inflatable safety equipment that protects car passengers in case of a collision. Generally, they are made out of stretchable fabric like nylon. Airbags on cars are part of the occupant restraint safety system as they supplement the safety offered by seatbelts.

Airbags are tightly packed at various locations inside the cabin, depending on the type of airbag. Most commonly, you find the airbags on the dashboard. If there’s a collision, they inflate very quickly and provide cushioning for the passengers to reduce the chances of your body colliding with the vehicle’s interior. In the following sections, let’s look at the working mechanism and different types of airbags.

How Do Airbags in Cars Work?

Now that what an airbag is in a car is clear, let us understand how it works. Airbags work by means of a chemical reaction and a bunch of sensors. But before diving deep into how airbags in a car work, let’s look at some of the main components of the system. An airbag system consists of crash sensors, an inflator, an airbag module and an airbag control unit. These components work in conjunction to efficiently deploy the airbag if there’s an accident/collision.

How Do Airbags Open in Cars?

So, how does the car airbag system work? Refer to the points below to find out the answer.

• The crash sensors — generally located at the front of the vehicle — relay the signal to the airbag control unit if it detects sudden deceleration.
   
• The main control unit also receives information from other sensors such as wheel speed sensors, seat occupant status sensors, brake pressure sensors, etc.
   
• The airbag control unit analyses the data and can activate safety features such as automatic door lock, seatbelt lock and airbag deployment.
   
• Once the main control unit detects an accident, it sends a signal to the inflator.
   
• A chemical charge is initiated by the inflator, which produces an explosion of Nitrogen gas. The gas fills up the airbag.
   
• As soon as the Nitrogen fills the airbag, it bursts through the panel that contains it and provides a cushioning effect to the passenger.
   
• Lastly, the airbag deflates automatically after deployment.

How Fast Do Airbags Deploy?

The airbag deployment speed is rapid. Accidents are unpredictable; a collision can happen at any moment. Hence, the reaction time is crucial for any safety equipment. So, how fast does an airbag deploy? The answer is very fast! The airbags deploy in around 55 milliseconds, and that’s the time you to blink your eyes! So, the system is very effective due to its super quick reaction time.

Types of Car Airbags and What They Protect

Not all airbags are the same, and they don’t all protect the same body parts either. Different types of airbags are placed in specific areas of the car cabin to shield various parts of your body during a crash. Whether it’s your head, chest, knees, or even the space between passengers, each airbag serves a unique purpose. Here’s a handy table to help you quickly understand where each type is located and what it’s designed to protect.

What is the Importance of Airbags in Cars?

As mentioned earlier, a car airbag is one of the essential passive features of a car. That's the reason all modern cars come equipped with airbags as standard. Without airbags, the occupants may suffer serious injuries in the event of a severe collision. Without any cushion, the passenger's head, neck, knees, etc., may collide with the car's interior. Such injuries can be fatal.

So, airbags play an important role in minimising injuries. They act as a cushion and soften the blow experienced by the passengers during a collision. However, the airbags are of no use if the occupants are not using the seatbelts. That's because the airbag is also part of the restraint system, and they work in sync with the seatbelts. 

Sometimes the airbags can also hurt you if you have not fastened the seatbelt. Remember that the airbag deploys with an explosion, and if you are thrown uncontrollably from your seat, the force of airbag deployment may injure you. Hence, seatbelts are also as important as airbags in a car.

Pros and Cons of Airbags in Cars

In this section, let’s look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of car airbags.

Pros of Airbags in Cars

Below are the merits of car airbags:

• The airbags increase the cushioning around the driver/passenger's head, neck and spine in case of a severe collision.
   
• It minimises the force of impact by limiting the movement of the person's head and neck, provided the driver/passenger wears the seatbelt.
   
• It decreases the chances of occupants being thrown out of the front windshield or windows.

Cons of Airbags in Cars

Here are some of the disadvantages of car airbags:

• Deployment explosion: The airbags deploy by means of a chemical reaction. The inflator triggers an explosion that produces nitrogen, which fills the airbags. In some situations, the explosion can ignite fuel fumes or any other flammable component of the vehicle. In that case, it may lead to a fire accident.
   
• Dust cloud: The airbag is coated with talcum powder for ease of deployment. So, when the airbag deploys, it produces a dust cloud, which may cause breathing issues, asthma attacks or other respiratory-related issues.
   
• Deployment force: The airbags deploy with an incredible amount of force that equals a speed of around 300 km/h. So, if your body is too close to the steering wheel/dashboard when the airbag deploys, you could suffer severe injuries.

How Effective Are Car Airbags?

The car airbag is highly effective. That's why you see airbags on every modern car. They can turn out to be a lifesaver in a severe accident. They rely on several sensors and activate within the blink of an eye. The fast reaction time makes them efficient. The sensors are smart enough to detect a severe impact. The airbags don't deploy if the impact is very light. Hence, there's no chance of accidental airbag deployment.

Airbags are the most crucial piece of safety equipment that protects the occupants from severe injuries in case of a collision. However, the passengers must fasten the seat belts for the airbag to do its job. Without seatbelts, the airbags can cause more harm than protecting the occupants.

How Much Does an Airbag Cost?

The cost of an airbag can vary depending on your car’s make and model. The car airbag price can also vary depending on the type of airbag. For instance, the front airbags can be more expensive than curtain airbags. To know the exact pricing of your car’s airbag, you can refer to the spare parts catalogue of your vehicle. Alternatively, you can visit the authorised service centre to find out the price of airbags in cars.

Future of Airbag Technology

Technology evolves rapidly, and the same applies to car airbags as well. Safety features in cars have taken a giant leap in the past decade, and they will only get better as days go on. Now, coming to airbags, the future technology promises to make inflatable seatbelts a reality. In case of an impact, the seatbelt will also provide a cushioning effect to the chest and help to avoid any chest injuries.

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