During a stormy night, the movement of windshield wipers obstructs visibility. On this September evening, Mica, a young child, is safely strapped in her child safety seat while her older brother Sean snoozes in the backseat. Driving her exhausted children home, their mother unexpectedly encounters an incident – headlights illuminating a towering deer. In that fraction of a second before a sudden and forceful explosion rattles the car’s interior, both the mother and the deer become motionless. The airbags swiftly inflate and deflate as Sean begins to scream from the impact. Luckily, thanks to wearing her seatbelt and having an airbag, the mother remains unhurt. Anxiously, she checks on her two-year-old daughter for any signs of distress but is surprised by silence.
Nothing happens. Shocked, she shakes her little girl and realizes that something is gravely amiss. Mica is deceased.
With 31 occurrences already, the automotive industry must act urgently as the number of incidents continues to rise. This raises concerns about how many more incidents are needed for action to be taken. It is not only children who are affected; airbags have also caused fatalities among petite women and elderly individuals. Therefore, we must now evaluate the actual effectiveness of airbags in terms of providing protection. Initially, airbags were highly regarded as a beneficial safety feature.
Contrary to popular belief, airbags alone do not provide enough protection in accidents and do not render seatbelts unnecessary. It is important to note that if seatbelts are not worn, airbags can be potentially dangerous and even cause fatalities. Additionally, airbags cannot guarantee safety in rollover accidents as they do not prevent occupants from being thrown out of the vehicle. Besides their inherent risks, airbags also have a tendency to attract thieves due to their easy removal and high value. In fact, they often hold more value than car stereos, making them an attractive target for criminals who can profit significantly by stealing and selling them.
When examining the airbag matter, the primary concern is safety. Initially, the concept of incorporating airbags appeared beneficial and potentially life-saving. Nonetheless, CNN reports that airbags have caused fatal neck injuries to 30 children. Additionally, CNN states that the presence of airbags in their vehicles prevented 15 smaller women from surviving accidents (“Federal Safety Officials to Propose new Airbag Rules” 1).
According to both CNN and CNNfn, airbags have been attributed with saving 1,100 lives since their inception. However, despite this positive impact on life-saving efforts, they do not effectively decrease the overall injury rate in accidents.
Although airbags can be beneficial, there are situations in which they can actually cause harm. According to a report by USA Today (“Reports Knock Airbag Safety” 1), it was found that airbags can result in non-lethal injuries to passengers. This cancels out their effectiveness in reducing overall injuries and suggests that the negative impact of airbag-related accidents outweighs their limited positive impact.
Now let’s examine another issue with airbags – their unreliability.
The reliability of airbags has been questioned due to their inability to protect people of different sizes. During initial testing, engineers only considered a single-sized dummy, similar to “Larry and Vince”. They did not account for potential harm to babies or smaller individuals in the front seat. According to CNNfn, airbags deploy at 200 miles per hour triggered by sensors regardless of the crash severity. If car sensors could detect crash severity, deploying airbags with varying force levels could reduce injuries (“Reports Knock Airbag Safety” 1).
The development of “smart sensors” is still in progress and it will take a few more years for them to become fully functional. During this period, drivers will have to depend on their driving skills. Automotive News proposes that as “smart sensors” are introduced, advancements in airbag technology will also occur. These new airbags, known as “smarter airbags,” will be positioned not only in the steering wheel and glove box but also on the sides of seats. Additionally, these airbags can identify if there is a passenger present and deploy accordingly for improved safety even when no one is occupying the seat. The primary concern is ensuring that the cost of implementing these innovations does not outweigh their benefits (“Next generation airbags….” 18).
When considering a car purchase, the cost is a crucial factor. With insurance prices increasing, many people prefer a car that offers affordable insurance. However, insurance companies charge higher premiums for cars equipped with airbags. The cost of this type of insurance will continue to rise due to reported fatalities linked to airbags. The main reason behind the high insurance expense for these vehicles is the expensive replacement cost of deployed airbags, which CNNfn reports as almost $1,000 (“Reports Knock Airbag Safety” 1). Even a minor accident can result in thousands of dollars in medical expenses and an additional thousand for car repairs.
Not only do airbags lead to injuries and increased insurance costs, but they also attract thieves. Within a short period of time armed with basic tools, a thief can steal an airbag and earn a quick $200. This presents a strong incentive for thieves. However, stolen airbags hold no value for the average person. It is repair shop owners who purchase them to maintain their competitiveness. Regrettably, when these unlawfully obtained airbags and sensors are sold to repair shops, it jeopardizes everyone’s safety. Airbags cannot be easily transferred between vehicles due to potential differences in sensors or incorrect sizing of the airbag. Consequently, there is no way to determine if stolen airbags will effectively deploy in case of an accident. Given the high cost of replacing an airbag, it is unacceptable to have uncertainty regarding its functionality (Keebler 41).
According to Reason magazine, airbags can lead individuals to drive more recklessly, such as speeding and not wearing seatbelts. People with cars that have airbags may feel confident in driving aggressively. However, it is important to note that an airbag cannot function properly without a seatbelt. Not wearing a seatbelt while having an airbag can result in fatal consequences, as there have been cases where individuals could have survived if they had used both their seatbelt and the airbag. Furthermore, even when an airbag is present, passengers are still at risk of being ejected from the vehicle during an accident.
While it is necessary for safety, wearing seatbelts may still result in being ejected at high speeds. However, not using safety devices can lead to serious injuries even in minor accidents. Even airbags can cause harm in low-speed collisions. It is important to remember the numerous preventable accidents that have already occurred. Let us strive to avoid the devastating tragedy of losing someone dear.
