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1994-2002 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
Because I am convinced that they do far more harm than good. If you're wearing your seatbelt in a collision, they have little effect. If you are not wearing your seatbelt in a collision, the airbag will most likely kill you instantly. If your hands are any higher on the steering wheel than 9 and 3, the airbag will snap your arms like twigs. This is a little known fact that should be of great interest to the 80% of drivers who drive with one hand on top of the wheel; I don't but even with your hands in the correct position, one arm will sometimes be in front of the airbag (i.e. during turns). Airbags will often go off with surprisingly little provocation, even large bumps in the road. Bump, airbag goes off, breaks your arm(s), you lose control of the vehicle and crash. Thus can airbags actually cause accidents - this has actually happened. The response is not to question the airbag (the airbag is above reproach; to question this wonderful device is blasphemy, and you will be shunned from society for doing so), but to blame the driver for incorrect hand position on the wheel. In city driving, what is the percentage of time when you are driving in a perfectly straight line? This is the only time your hands can be in the "correct" position.
Also a little known fact, is that any driver shorter than 5'2" will almost certainly be killed or severley injured by the airbag going off. A minimum 12" from the steering wheel is required safe distance; impossible for the shorter driver in order for them to reach the pedals.
All in all, the airbag was big mistake. Marketing hype surrounding it makes people feel safer with it in there, and it is far too late for the auto industry to admit the screwed up; they can't lose that much face. I find it incredible that airbags became standard equipment at a time when most pick-up trucks still did not even have head restraints, and American cars had head "rests", good for taking a nap, but not for safety.
Anyway, didn't really mean to rant on that long. Thanks for the info.
posted by 161.184.23...
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