BDoty311

Why are so many people against airbags? They can save your life! Sure there are times when they could possibly do slightly more harm than good, but thats usually from people either sitting too close or people not wearing their seat belt.

That reminds me of people who don't wear their seatbelts because they are scared that they could be trapped inside the car after a wreck.

Icemark

They can kill as well.

I have personally seen more people hurt in cars with front impact air bags with injuries directly related to the bag.

Unless you are between 5'6" and 6'2" and weigh between 125-225lbs, most air bags are not even designed to protect you. So my wife who is 5'1" and my daughter who is just less than 5' could easily be killed by a bag. So much so that it is not recommended for them to even sit in the front seat.

Toss in the fact that airbags need to be replaced every 12 -15 years (depending on manufacture) weather they have been triggered or not, and suddenly you have a $1000 maintence expense.

The manufactures claim that air bags are designed to supplement seat belts, but the only reason they say that is for the ratio of people that are killed by them when they are in an accident without seat belts and just an airbag sky rockets.

If the belt was used properly it wouldn't even let you touch the steering wheel anyway. Air bags were simply forced upon us because of all the lame people that couldn't use seat belts. Most of you are too young to remember, but if the States could show 65% seat belt usage, then air bags and other SRS systems were not going to be mandatory. But because people were too lame, the feds made it mandatory to have an explosive device less than 24 inches from your face.

BDoty311

Good call Mark. You knowledge is neverending. ( Is that two words?)

StealthFox

iTrader: (2)

I agree with the fellow who sugguested defensive driving lessons. that and not going rediculously above the speed limit and wearing your seatbelt is what counts, because the fact of the matter is if you are going 140 mph in a very safe _____ car or are going 140 mph in an fc, and get into the exact same accident, the ending consequences will be simular.

gingenhagen

The latest car and driver was talking about how ABS hasn't been shown to reduce accidents but traction control (i think it's called traction control...when the car detects yaw rate to control braking/power to individual wheels) did. Because ABS requires you pushing hard enough on the brakes and more active steering, while traction control only requires that you try to point in a relatively smart direction. I know lots of you "pure drivers" don't like the car driving for you, but it really does make it much easier (read: safer) when, say, you start spinning out on black ice.