Are Air Bags Safe For Small People?
Air bags are an invaluable safety feature which have saved tens of thousands of lives. Most modern vehicles are equipped with both frontal and side bags which may or may not come with head protection. During an accident, passengers will continue to move forward at a fast speed even though the vehicle has stopped. Air bags work by preventing the driver to hit hard surfaces such as the wheel and from hitting the windshield. Air bags generally work best when used with seat belts. However, they may be dangerous for extremely short and petite people since they were engineered for the "average sized" male.
Air bags are federally mandated required; all cars produced after the year 1989 are required to carry them. Commercial air bags were introduced to the public in the seventies, however they started to become more popular during the eighties and nineties. Air bags use gas to deploy and generally rise up extremely fast. In order to be safe, make sure that you sit at least ten inches away from the wheel; this means that you may have to adjust the seat. This may pose a problem for short people because they tend to want to move their seats up so they can have a clear view and reach the pedals
If you have problems reaching the pedals when driving then consider having pedal extenders put in your car. These extensions are installed on the gas and brake pedals, allowing you to move the seat backwards so you don't have to sit super close to the wheel. Also, consider adjusting the steering wheel so that it's pointed towards your chest and pointed downwards.
Another choice that is available is to have an on or off switch installed which you can then turn off when your step behind the wheel. Select modern cars can detect an individual's weight and adjust accordingly. Some also have the ability to deploy in stages according to the severity of the accident. Less force is used in this case during minor impact.
Don't lean against the side door when driving, don't rest your head or prop up your arms against it and make sure your passengers don't do the same. Injuries can occur if the side bags go off while you're leaning against it.
Although these issues may seem alarming, remember that air bags have saved tens of thousands of lives. Air bags are most effective when you use seatbelts so always remember to buckle up too; It is the law.
Written by Jacqueline Star - Dave Sinclair Ford dealer Ford St Louis offers a large selection of cars surrounding St Charles and Festus such as the Mustang, F-150 and Flex. We also offer parts and service. Auto Dealers Las Vegas consists of three dealerships serving Las Vegas and Henderson in Nevada with a vast inventory.
21 Jul, 2011
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Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6435658
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