25 years of the airbag

[MeraBoy]

In 1971 Mercedes Benz patented the airbag, a system it had been developing for over five years. Mercedes has started development at the behest of the authorities that demanded a better safety system than just the seat belt. One of the reasons Mercedes decided to develop the airbag was that it would work independently of the driver. At the time, there was still a perception that seat belts were hindering and not really worth using, so many drivers avoided them. In some cases, passengers not wearing a seat belt even suffered additional injuries from the deploying airbag. Of course, we now know that airbags work best in conjunction with a seat belt.

Encouraged by successful trials (including a total of 250 crash tests and around 2,500 trial runs on the crash sled), Mercedes went on to develop the system and first offered it in its range-topping S-class sedan in 1981, as an option to begin with. In 1984 the airbag became optional on all Benz models, and it took another eight years to become standard in all models. Today, it’s unheard of for a new car to not feature at least one airbag, and now it seems we have airbags coming out of every nook and cranny of our cars.

Source: motorauthority.com

 

[MeraBoy]

Tick the side airbag option on the next car you buy

It’s been proven that cars with airbags are much safer in the event of a crash than those without. Now it appears that the number of fatalities of people driving SUVs involved in a side-impact collision has dropped over 50 percent for those vehicles equipped with curtain airbags.

This style of airbag is particularly safe for SUVs. In some vehicles, the airbags stay deployed long enough (roughly 3 seconds) to help protect passengers during rollover incidents. Rollovers last longer than a single side crash and may involve more than one kind of impact, so airbags and their sensors must be engineered specifically for this kind of crash.

Further, passengers in cars equipped with side airbags (mounted in the seat or door) had the chances of a fatality reduced by 30 percent compared to vehicles with none. Fortunately, roughly 80 percent (US only) of cars and SUVs that are sold feature the side mounted airbags as standard or at least as an option. In a recent article by The Detroit News quoting the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 2,000 deaths could be saved annually if the airbags were made compulsory.

Source: motorauthority.com

 

[cik_yat]

thinking..... how much to reinstall the airbag??

 

[MeraBoy]

thinking..... how much to reinstall the airbag??

better get a car with airbags, be it 2nd hand @ new depending on budget.

 

[BlackSamurai]

thinking..... how much to reinstall the airbag??

my question will be, does airbag installation cover under insurance?

1971? Wow, I know Merc invented that, but never know it happen before I was born...

 

[alantan]

hmm..good question...insurance covers a/bag deploys?

and...install roll cages as well for those car that doesn;t come with this options.

cabut~

 

[MeraBoy]

does install airbags affect the insurance premium ? maybe no, in fact, it should b encouraged. Whoever 1 to install hv to ask the insurance co.

 

[sendoh_7]

btw..how to know whether the airbags installed are still functional?
better not know it the hard way>>airbags not deployed during crash

 

[MeraBoy]

Below r some guidelines for checking the airbags urself, but it's better ask a reliable mechanic to check for u.

Used Car? Check For Air Bags

If you're buying a used car, there are a few things you can check to ensure the vehicle has an air bag and that it's in good working condition:

* Find out if the car had airbags when manufactured. Look for signs on the steering wheel and dashboard that say "airbag" or SIR (supplemental inflatable restraint) or SRS (supplemental restraint system). Also check the vehicle owner's manual or call a dealer for that make of vehicle.

* If the car has airbags, then watch for an airbag indicator light on the dashboard. This will be a pictogram or the word airbag, that comes on for a few seconds, when the ignition key is turned on, and then goes out.

When the light is on, the vehicle computer is checking the entire airbag system. When it has completed this check satisfactorily, the light goes out. If it detects a problem, it continues to flash a "trouble code" until the problem is fixed.
* If the airbag indicator light stays on, or continues to flash off and on for more than a few seconds, this may mean there is a problem with the airbag system that needs to be fixed before you buy the car.

* If the light NEVER comes on, it may indicate a serious problem. If the airbag is missing, the bulb may have been removed so it cannot flash its warning to you. If the airbag bulb has been removed, you do not want to have anything to do with that car, or any other car from that person.

Do not buy a car with airbags but no airbag indicator light unless you have had it checked by an independent mechanic, or preferably a dealer for that make of vehicle.

You can do this simple check by yourself and won't need to go to a dealer or mechanic unless there is a problem with the light. The vehicle self-diagnosis is done every time the key is turned on and is very reliable.

Source:
ICBC - Buying a Car - Used car? Check for air bags

 

[imoloq]

Great writeup Meraboy! Very informative!

 

[MeraBoy]

U r most welcomed. :_:

 

[zzainudin]

btw..how to know whether the airbags installed are still functional?
better not know it the hard way>>airbags not deployed during crash

bro, it's very simple to check it whether function or not..try hit the wall..
hehehe, sorry just joking !

 

[BlackSamurai]

does install airbags affect the insurance premium ?

No for Malaysia, but Yes for car insurance in United States. And BNM having idea to implement that system.

 

[MeraBoy]

any idea of the time frame to start it ?

 

[BlackSamurai]

BNM wanted to start it 3 years ago, but somehow it doesn't materialise, I'm not sure is there any new timeline set by BNM recently. None of the insurance agency mention it lately.