Air Bags

[old2soon]

     As used in cars pickups and I've heard New G/Ws! I've had first hand experience with an air bag. I KNOW for a Fact air bags WORK. 2000 Buick Lesabre. Older Ford 3/4 ton crossed in front of me and Claimed she NEVER saw me. Will NOT go into the details but My entire family was with me and superficial injuries nothing serious.
      So my question. Anyone else here have first hand use of an air bag? What I recall of the actuation of the air bag is the stench and the cloud of dust after deployment. The accident ocurred on Sunday after Church and Monday I called G M Buick in Detroit and thanked them for how well that danged thing performed. Maybe 50  55 MPH at impact. And BTW insurance totaled that 2000 Buick and it only had a bit more than 800 miles on it! Eight Hundred-NO MISPRINT. RIDE SAFE.

[John Schmidt]

Was it your car? Anyway, glad all are ok despite some bruises. Buddy of mine Florida had his air bag pop open in a small accident and it hit his nose just enough to give him a nosebleed. We had to lay it on thick by telling him it wasn't the airbag, it was his wife Linda cuz she got tired of his mouth. Those bags can be a life saver...the ones in the cars that is! 

[Chrisj CMA]

Some kid pulled out in front of me in my wife’s ford Ranger pickup. 35 mph. Yep totaled the truck. Airbag deployed. I don’t remember a smell but I remember how sore my face was. Probably because it was only a short trip so I didn’t adjust the seat from her setting. Now I really take notice at mostly older women that have their seat up so close their chest is almost touching the wheel. I think to myself, that person has never experienced an airbag deployment or they wouldn’t be sitting that close.

[Oss]

Young lady took off from a party up the hill from me on a rainy night, lost control
and hit a tree about 20 feet from our bedroom in my neighbors front yard. That air bag
 noise was so loud I woke up thinking I had a heart attack but when I looked out the window and saw
the car steaming i ran out to help the driver
It was 2am and the airbag saved her life
She was drunk and the cops took her with the vol ambulance people

Dardest thing though  My neighbor came out of her house, saw the small chip out of the big tree
and said that she wished the girl died because she hit her tree.
God took that neighbor a few years back.  The girl still lives

I believe in air bags strongly enough that I have a hit-air jacket

[Serk]

I realize this is the proverbial exception that proves the rule, but many years ago, in a car with a first generation "dumb" airbag my sister was in a minor fender banger. There likely would have been no injuries it was so minor; however the airbag deployed.

It shattered the windshield and grabbed a piece of glass (Or something else) and inserted the item into her eyeball.

It wasn't a pleasant recovery.

For many years after that I made it my mission to disable as many airbags as I could on personal vehicles and those of friends and family.

Now the airbags have gotten a lot "smarter" and won't go off unless necessary, and even then can regulate how powerfully they go off so I don't disable them any longer.

Few years ago during Texas' "Snowmegeddon" I had an incident where the road curved and I didn't (Since it was all hidden in snow) and went into a culvert, deployed the side impact airbags only on Spc Kali. She believes to this day the airbags caused more harm than good, snapping her head back away from the window; I don't fully agree, as that action prevented her head from smacking into the side of the car. Regardless, I've not replaced the deployed airbags and drive the beater still 'till this day...

[Jess from VA]

This made me curious so I looked, and my 2017 Ram Promaster 2500 has front and side airbags.

I don't want them.  I suppose you can't just pull a fuse.   

[Serk]

...and we haven't even touched on modern seat belts having explosive charges in 'em too... 

[old2soon]

     So that ol evil curiousity got the better of me. The 1973 Oldsmobile Toronado was the 1st automobile to offer a passenger side air bag. In 75 & 76 Drivers side air bags were offered as an option on Buicks and Oldmobiles. Believe the 76 Olds Toronado I once owned had the drivers side option. As long as I owned it no air bags were deployed. Even at 14 MPG average there are times I miss that Toronado. RIDE SAFE.

[fgtex]

I believe in air bags strongly enough that I have a hit-air jacket

I am with you.  I have the Helite Airbag Vest.

[vanavyman]

   We hit a deer at night on RT13 going north on the Eastern Shore of Maryland at 60 MPH in a 1990 Ford Taurus many years ago.  No injuries. Immediate dark and smoke.   Worked well.  Glad everyone was ok for you.
   Now with the Airbag on my 2015 Goldwing I'm not so sure how that would work and don't want to find out.  Some reviews in the blogs discuss it.  
Dan & Trish