AIRBAG: IS IT AN EFFECTIVE OCCUPANT PROTECTION SYSTEM?

The role of airbag as an occupant protection system is very significant. In case of serious frontal crashes, airbags can perform well enough to provide additional protection. Airbags save and/or kill people involved in a crash depending on the way they deploy and the position of the passenger when the crash occurred. Hence, understanding the process of airbag deployment is very crucial. Some significant facts related to air bag deployment are discussed in this paper. Many factors influence the effectiveness of airbags. Hence, the effectiveness of airbags is discussed at length and the variation in the effectiveness due to different factors and in different applicable conditions is presented. One of the more recent problems being widely discussed is the child-airbag interaction. A few facts regarding this issue are outlined and the possibilities for a positive interaction between children and airbags are discussed. The concept of future airbags (smart airbags and side airbags) has been introduced. It has been concluded that airbags are an efficient occupant protection system, if used with necessary precautions.