How does a car airbag work?

Most new vehicles come fitted with airbags. First introduced in the 1950s, airbags have been a mandatory safety feature in all new UK cars being sold since 1998. These inflatable bags can be found in many areas of your car’s cabin, from the steering wheel and dashboard to the rear passenger seats.

Here, our guide covers the ins and outs of car airbags and whether you can drive a car with a deployed airbag.

What is an airbag?

An airbag is a cushion that inflates and deflates quickly, protecting the driver and passengers from being harmed in the event of a collision. The airbags are designed to work together with seatbelts and crumple zones, absorbing most of the impact in a collision. If a car doesn’t have airbags, you are more likely to collide with equipment inside the cabin, increasing your risk of serious injury.

What components make up a car airbag?

A car airbag is typically made up of:

• A compressed airbag cushion.
• Airbag connectors
• An inflation module.
• Multiple impact sensors.

If your vehicle is involved in a collision, the airbags should activate quickly. The gyroscopes and accelerometers in your car can detect the forces the vehicle is subjected to. They can determine whether the airbag can be deployed in an accident.

Do I need to get my car’s airbags serviced every year?

No. The airbags should be designed for the lifespan of your car, but you should inspect them when the airbag warning light illuminates on the dashboard.

Where can you find airbags in your car?

It is easy to picture a car airbag inflating from your steering wheel. However, you can find airbags in many places inside your car’s cabin:

• Frontal airbags – You can find this airbag in the steering wheel or the dashboard, in front of the passenger’s seats.
• Curtain airbags – This type of airbag is found on the roof or headliner, above the windows and doors.
• Centre airbags – You can find the centre airbags in the driver’s seat and front passenger’s seat.
• Knee airbags - These airbags are located under the steering column for the driver and knee height, under the dashboard for passengers.
• Side airbags – Typically, side airbags are situated on your car’s doors.

Should you switch off your car’s airbags?

Your car’s airbags should be switched off if it presents a danger to vulnerable passengers, like babies and young children.

If you decide to switch off the airbags, you can do so via a switch inside your car’s cabin. We recommend that when driving with babies or children travelling in the front passenger seat that you deactivate the front passenger airbag, for older children using front facing car seats or booster seats you should ensure that they sit in the rear of the vehicle. Also, be sure to turn the airbags back on when transporting other older children or adult passengers in the front seat to reduce the risk of potential injuries if your car is involved in an accident.

Can you drive a car with a deployed airbag?

No, driving a car with a deployed airbag will affect other safety features while compromising your vehicle’s steering. However, if you have been involved in a severe collision that activated the airbags, you should not drive it until it is checked by a trained mechanic.

Is your vehicle’s MOT due soon? Are you wondering if it is roadworthy? Our article covers what you need to know about what makes a car roadworthy. Book your free 7-point safety check at your nearest Merityre branch across South-East England today.