Air Bag Safety

Air bags and seat belts save lives every day and here are a few things you should know to make sure they work properly. Their purpose is to cushion occupants during a crash and provide protection to their bodies when they strike interior objects such as the steering wheel or a window. Modern vehicles may contain multiple airbag modules in various side and frontal locations of the passenger seating positions; the airbag is designed to only inflate in moderate to severe frontal crashes. 

Airbags are normally designed with the intention of supplementing the protection of an occupant who is correctly restrained with a seat belt. Be sure to use your shoulder and lap seat belt; air bags are not a substitute for seat belts. 

According to research conducted by Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, children exposed to air bags during a crash are twice as likely to suffer a serious injury.  Children younger than 13 years are safest when placed in the back seat of a vehicle, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Other air bag safety rules to follow include:

• Never place an infant in a rear-facing child safety seat in the front seat with an air bag. In a crash, the air bag comes out of the dashboard with its force directed at the back of the infant's head if riding in the front passenger seat.
• The rear seat is the safest place in the car for children younger than 13 years. If you don’t have enough room in the back of your car to safely transport the number of children who need to travel safely, please visit a car seat check in your area where a trained expert will help evaluate your situation. You may need to arrange to use a safer vehicle with enough back seat positions to keep all the kids safe.
• All passengers ages 13 and older need to wear a lap and shoulder belt when riding in the front seat. Air bags are designed to work with the lap and shoulder belt to protect the occupant in the event of a crash.
• To keep your older child (age 13 and older) safe in the front seat:
• Move the front seat as far back as possible from the dashboard
• Teach your child not to lean forward to change the radio dial or to insert CDs
• Insist that your child sit upright against the seatback, with the seat belt snug at all times

Driving Defensively

You may be a skilled driver but at one point or another you may run into equipment failures, bad weather, inexperienced drivers, unpredictable pedestrians, and drivers who ignore traffic laws. Here are some tips from the Registry of Motor Vehicles that could save you and your family’s lives.

To prepare for unpredictable events, you should always drive defensively.

• Always have clear visibility in front and around your vehicle.  Clean your windows and remove all snow.

• Stay alert and prepared for the unexpected.

• Keep a safe distance around your vehicle.

• Drive at the right speed and know when to slow down and stop.

• Always wear your safety belt.

• Do not drive if you have been drinking, are on medication, or are very tired.

• Keep your vehicle in good working order.

• Obey the rules of the road and give the right-of-way when appropriate.

Always look ahead of and around you, and check your mirrors often. Be aware of road

conditions and possible hazards in front, to the sides, and behind you.

• Look at everything in front of you. Look for vehicles stopping and watch for people

getting in or out of parked vehicles. Pay close attention to pedestrians or bicyclists

sharing the road with you.

• Expect mistakes from other drivers.

• Watch for back-up lights of vehicles ahead of you.

• Pay close attention to crosswalks. Don’t rely on traffic signals. Other drivers, bicyclists,

and pedestrians may ignore traffic signals.

• Always pay close attention near playgrounds, schoolyards, and shopping centers.

Children, pedestrians, and bicyclists may be hidden from sight.

• A big part of driving defensively is giving the right-of-way to prevent unsafe traffic situations.