5 things that Indian car occupants should not do in a car with airbags

With the development of technology as well as the high requirements for safety features, airbags are situated in some areas of Indian cars to protect occupants’ bodies from any damage in the case of an accident or a crash. Front airbags and side airbags are two common types of airbags. Airbags are sometimes offered by the manufacturers as optional while they are mandatory safety components for new cars in some countries.  In India, most of all new cars come with airbags. Apart from their massive advantages, there are certain things listed below that you should not do when you are driving a car with airbags.

1. Install bullbars

As you may know, the small airbags will fill up with air very quickly as huge cushions to protect you and your passenger when the crash sensors detect a crash and measure the impact. These sensors are situated at the front of the vehicle. Therefore, when you install a bulbar at the front of your car, it might have the negative impact on these sensors. Particularly, the airbag deployment would be delayed. Even worse, there might be a failure of airbag deployment, which can cause severe injuries for the occupants.  

Installing a bulbar at the front of your car might have the negative impact on the crash sensors

2. Place ornaments on your dashboard

Ornaments such as a toy, a photo frame, art kit on your dashboard can be a potential risk when a co-driver airbag is deployed. It takes about 55 milliseconds for an airbag to come into effect. Therefore, these ornaments may hit the occupants with a sudden and strong force, which is very dangerous. Make sure that your dashboard is free of any kind of ornaments to avoid unexpected hits when you own a car with a co-driver airbag.

Dashboard ornaments can be a potential risk when a co-driver airbag is deployed

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3. Sit too close to the steering

In some cases, the reason for any injury or fatality is not defective airbags, but the occupants. Specifically, it is the distance from them to the airbags when these airbags are unfolded.  

When you are a driver, pay more attention to the driver-side airbag compressed in the steering wheel. Then, make sure that you always avoid sitting too close to the steering wheel or placing your hands on the airbag. An airbag can quickly inflate and cause injury to your face or even death. According to car experts, 10 inches away from the dashboard is an ideal distance to protect you from the risk of airbag injury.

An airbag can quickly inflate and cause injury to your face or even death

4. Not wear seatbelts

Although airbags can significantly reduce injury or fatality in case of a collision, seatbelts are always a must. Moreover, in some cars, seatbelts and airbags are designed to work together. Therefore, you can imagine there will be a potential risk if you do not wear your seatbelt when your airbags suddenly inflate. Remember to fasten your seatbelts after you properly sit on your seat and keep a safe distance from the airbags.  

Airbags can significantly reduce injury or fatality, but remember that seatbelts are always a must.

5. Let a child sit on the front passenger seat

The powerful force of the front airbag deployment can cause a severe injury or even death to your child. At this time, the front airbag might become a highly explosive device to your child. It is suggested that kids under 12 should always sit in the back seat. Otherwise, you can let your kid occupy the front passenger seat when you have already deactivated the front airbags.

Read more tips and guides on safety driving from IndianAuto:

• Top 5 child safety features that every Indian family car should have

• Top 17 Road Safety Tips To Drive In India