Team-BHP - View Single Post - Air Bag Deployment ? What are the required conditions?

Shankyz · 1st May 2008, 13:33

I have posted a related post a few days back, but never got any replies from anyone, hence initiating a new thread on this topic.

I think this is interesting, when/how the airbags get deployed ? As far as I know, there is one or more sensors, under the bumper, radiator grills , A Pillar etc which detect rapid de-acceleration and get activated in case of an impact. But off late I have seen few cars where the speed was not much, in one case the car got scrapped from the side and no frontal collision happened, but still the Airbags were deployed. I tried to look for any damage to interiors of the car including the dash, windscreen, A Pillars etc. but they seemed in perfectly OK condition.

Is this on the expected lines? Somehow I had the impression that the airbags get deployed on impact at a high speed (>80 kmph), is that correct? Some of the sources I found on googling mention that even a frontal collision at 20 kmph will cause the airbags to deploy, if it does...what is the use/need or justification ?

I don't think anyone is going to get hurt (Physically) in a collision at 20 kmph? Ofcourse financial hit will be there since the replacements will cost >50k and insurance won't cover 100% anyway.

I think some of these Qs may appear silly to the experts on board but it will be great if they share their opinion, experiences.

1st May 2008, 13:33	#1 (permalink)
Shankyz BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Delhi Posts: 160	Air Bag Deployment ? What are the required conditions? I have posted a related post a few days back, but never got any replies from anyone, hence initiating a new thread on this topic. I think this is interesting, when/how the airbags get deployed ? As far as I know, there is one or more sensors, under the bumper, radiator grills , A Pillar etc which detect rapid de-acceleration and get activated in case of an impact. But off late I have seen few cars where the speed was not much, in one case the car got scrapped from the side and no frontal collision happened, but still the Airbags were deployed. I tried to look for any damage to interiors of the car including the dash, windscreen, A Pillars etc. but they seemed in perfectly OK condition. Is this on the expected lines? Somehow I had the impression that the airbags get deployed on impact at a high speed (>80 kmph), is that correct? Some of the sources I found on googling mention that even a frontal collision at 20 kmph will cause the airbags to deploy, if it does...what is the use/need or justification ? I don't think anyone is going to get hurt (Physically) in a collision at 20 kmph? Ofcourse financial hit will be there since the replacements will cost >50k and insurance won't cover 100% anyway. I think some of these Qs may appear silly to the experts on board but it will be great if they share their opinion, experiences.