Does Anyone Know?

[JimD]

I've only had one wreck since getting married and deciding I would settle down, at least a little. Or stated another way, one wreck in over 30 years. My 7 year old Suzuki SUV could not stop when a young lady in a Volvo turned left in front of me. My SUV needed over 7K in repairs and the Volvo was totaled. Air bag did not go off. I was doing ~40-45 when I hit the brakes but I don't know what I was doing when I hit her car. So maybe it was less than the deployment velocity (or deacceleration?) but it should have at least been close.

I don't worry about it, however, because I wear my seat belt and I think that gives you most of the safety benefit. I was fine after the wreck I mention above (and I drove the Suzuki off too but it had a radiator leak and ended up getting towed to the repair shop). The young lady was not wearing a seat belt and left in an ambulance (but I don't think she was seriously injured).

Jim

[JSUPreston]

I guess the folks that do the designing of the systems are a lot smarter than me, but I've personally seen or been involved in 3 accidents where I am surprised the air bags didn't fire.

Incident #1: SWMBO rear ends an Audi Sedan. Wife is driving a Saturn SL1 and the nose of the car actually went under the Audi. Only damage to the Audi were the tow hooks. Destroyed the nose on the Saturn.

Incident #2: I was rear ended about 5 years ago by a moron doing between 50 and 60 while I was at a dead stop. His right front clipped my left rear and lifted the entire rear of my truck off the ground and shoved me into the SUV in front of me. My truck didn't have bags, but the car that hit me did. Totally destroyed the right side of his front bumper, fender and hood back to the tire, but the car was still driveable.

Incident #3: Our wreck earlier this month. We were hit on the right front corner of the van. Destroyed the front bumper, right front fender, all the suspension on that side, etc.

Okay, #3 I almost understand...but why not the other two. On our Saturn, the airbags never faulted as far as the computer was concerned. The explanation Saturn gave was that the point of impact was too high on the bumper cover/nose. On #2, I haven't a clue...plus that idiot still owes me my $500 deductible. Showed that he had insurace a the scene. When I called his company, he had already skipped town and his policy had been cancelled the week before.

[phi1l]

I just always wear my safety belt, make sure any passengers are wearing theirs, & don't worry about it...

[Rand]

You could test your airbags by driving about 20 mph into a brick wall.

[billwmeyer]

I think airbags should be banned as dangerous. I mean if a driver rear ends someone else while texting, how will the phone be dislodged from their forehead??

Bill

[cabinetman]

I think airbags should be banned as dangerous. I mean if a driver rear ends someone else while texting, how will the phone be dislodged from their forehead??

Bill

You are right, airbags are dangerous and do kill people. But they also save people. Go figure.
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/...y-save-anybody
.

[gsmittle]

My first car didn't have airbags, unless the wife was riding with me.

Thank you, I'll be here all week.

Should we try the veal??

g.