But airbags do deploy even at over 200kmph at times....

In fact, an Airbag only deploys in extreme shocks that could make you hit the steering reaaaly strongly despite the seatbelt.
It works in conjunction with the seatbelt that is the most important part of the Restraint System (now seatbelts are 'active": first the seatblet tenses themsleves and put you back on the seat, then the Airbags pops up and in the same time the seatbelts let you move slightly forward to avoid injuries of the thorax, and your head goes in the Airbag).

If you hit something hard like a wall or a tree, even at 30kmh the Airbags will pop up: the car is stopped instantly with an extreme deceleration.

If you hit something not so strong (a car that is parked, or a cow), the car won't decelerate that strong. It will loose a lot of speed, but not instantly because the object you hit will also absorb energy. In these case, you need a lot more speed to make the Airbag pop up.

Airbags only deploys if there is enough deceleration. It's not the impact speed or the deformation of the car, but the deceleration that is important.

And an Airbag is not there to protect you against an object entering the passenger's cell, your exploded windshield or anything.
Furthermore, the steering shouldn't move more than some mm in modern cars, because of the security steering that broke in case of a crash.

Each airbag has one or more sensors depending on the model of car.

Like I said earlier, side and curtain airbags will only deploy if the car is t-boned in a 90 degree side impact. Want the curtain airbags to deploy? Go and park a car on a railway track and wait for the train...

The A-Pillar deformed appropriately to deflect the animal away from the compartment whilst absorbing the energy. This is a GOOD thing... if the pillar didn't deflect, then it means that it didn't absorb the energy or in other words cushion the impact. This could have resulted in much more severe deceleration or catastrophic deflection of the vehicle from its current path on the road.

Farouk, crash protection is so terribly misunderstood. A bull weighing 400 kg gets hit by a car - without warning - at 120 km/h and the occupants walk aways with cuts and bruises? A 5 star result in my books...

True. Airbags tend only to be deployed when a car absorb enough energy bringing the car to heavy deceleration like hitting a tree, which would make the frontal structure crumble.

Front Airbags generally have two sensors, one towards the front of the bonnet, one closer from the passenger's cell. They detect the crash and its strength. But the key element is a decelerometer who calculates the strength of the deceleration of tha car. Even if the car is heavily deformed, the Airbags will only deploy if the deceleration is hard enough.

Side airbags also have a limited angle. Modern cars have doors designed so that if the're beeing hit at an angle, the object will slide all along the side of the car. it's only if the object hits the car directly (almost perpendicularly), thus won't slide away, that sidebags popus up. They are here to make you move away from the side of the car, they push you to the center of the car, and "protect" against splits.

The head-airbags are here to make sure that your head won't hit the side of the door, and to protect you if the car goes on the roof.

No no, hang on... let me clarify what I mean by an airbag deploying at 200 km/h.

What I mean is: an airbag when activated will explode out of the steering boss at the velocity of 200 km/h toward the driver! Even in a 50 km/h frontal impact if the deceleration is severe enough.

[Edit: Now imagine you're not wearing your seatbelt in a heavy frontal impact; imagine you've just hit a tree doing "just" 60 km/h and the car comes to a dead standstill in the matter of 1 metre... your body is still moving forward at 60 km/h and the airbag is coming at you at 200 km/h. Mike Tyson ain't got nuthin on that airbag - it will certainly break your jaw, ribs, sternum if not kill you outright.]

ok,I think im getting it noww....Wow...Thanks guys, Martinbo,Cool Raul,Centurion and all,I appreciat all the info and advice, its truly amazing how far safety technology has gone....im truly thankfulk my parents are alive 2day, and most probably they are becoz of the technology available 2day...

i do feel much betta knowin my dads fav brand neva let him down...lol..now 2 go explain it 2 him is gna b a mission, im jus gna print all these replies out and giv it 2 him.....

Word!!

The airbag is often seen as the Savior. It isn't. It's only a part of the Safety Concet of modern cars, and it is NOT a main part of it.

The two key elements are the seatbelt and the crumble zone/passenger's safety cell including safety steering.

In an older car, even with Airbags deployed, your parents would likely be in hospital right now.
Of course, maybe there was a failure in the system. But the fact that your parents are safe indicates that the Airbags weren't needed.

Tell them to thank Volvo that allowed them to be safe enough to fill this complaint...

Here here to that statement! It's been my pleasure, my friend...

Good on you Farouk! And props to Volvo! Still one of the safest cars out there...

One again, A big thank you for every1....This was the first site i though off 2 find out how 2 Go forward after my dads accident,and i must say for automotiv Advice, therre is no betta site....Another round of thank yous 2 the creators and Mods of this site....I truly have been really helped..And without this site, i would have prob taken a verry drastic and not needed decision....




Farouk...