Safety controversy!

[jerrysta]

I have wanted to get an aftermarket steering wheel for a while and because of that have gotten into a bit of an arguement with my wife about the benefits of air bags. I always argue that I think without the bags you have a better chance of still controlling the car, but with bags she argues that the impact won't drive your face into the wheel!

Truth is, I'm not even sure if I am right or not.

BTW I always wear my seat belt.

What do you guys think?

[Jay 02 TA ws6]

Well, unless you are a 4 year old toddler sitting where you shouldn't be... airbags save lives...

[raroZ28]

Depends on how serious the accident is. My friend got in an accident, and the airbag didn't help him. It wasn't so severe. He got jerked, but the airbag deployed and bruised his chest and arm. If the airbag wasn't there he would have walked away from the accident scratch free. This was in a 93 stealth. Airbags do save lives though. It depends on how severe the accident is. My aunt's dad got in an accident.. Airbag went off and broke his nose. Again, it wasn't even necessary. The seatbelt probably would have stopped him from going into the steering wheel. Walked away with a broken nose and badly bruised face. If he were in a car w/out an airbag he too would have walked away scratch free. Depends.

[Jeff_in_Atl]

It depends on the car or actually the type of air bag used. The one speed air bag deploys really hard for a low speed accident. It's fine for a high speed accident. That is why the car mfg have gone to a 2 or multi speed bad. They deploy slower or lower at lower speeds to stop people from getting hurt by the bags. I assume yours and mine have a 1 speed bag.

I'd rather get a broken nose from a low speed accident than take a chance on a high speed accident without the bag.

[jerrysta]

So it seems most of us would say leave the bag and the wheel alone?

[TraceZ]

Don't go and get carried away about thinking that the airbag in your car is a hazard to you. That is dangerous thinking and that same logic has gotten people killed when they apply it to their seatbelts. Many people refuse to wear a seatbelt because it could trap them in a burning car or some other crazy justification. Any cop will tell you that is complete BS.

The truth is that airbags just like seatbelts save lives. Your airbag is far more likely to save your life before it causes you any injury. This goes the same for seatbelts. To remove proven safety equipment from your street vehicle is foolish. Please leave the S.I.R.s in your cars intact and please wear your seatbelts.

Airbags are designed to be used in conjunction with a seatbelt. Without a seatbelt holding you in place your body can glance off the side of the bag and cause injury. The two are designed to go hand in hand. The seatbelt holds you in place while the airbag gently absorbs your momentum.

If you are foolish enough to remove the airbag, why not stop wearing your seatbelt too? I've twice in my life seen first hand collisions with steering columns that absorbed a human chest impact. Neither of the two people lived. I saw another guy at the same intersection take the same hit and walk away smiling giving credit to his airbag and seat belt. The difference can be life or death, it's your call. What if you make the decision to remove it and a couple years down the road it is a loved one that dies because of you?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that since 1990, airbag deployment has killed 227 people in low-severity crashes, including 76 drivers, 10 adult passengers, 119 children between the ages of 1 and 11, and 22 infants. Of the 76 adult drivers killed, 28 were women under 5 feet 2 inches tall, and 4 of the 10 adult passengers killed were females smaller than that height.

31,904 people died in car accidents in 2003 alone. Multiply that by 14 years to get an estimate since 1990 and you get nearly half a million dead people.

So compare 227 accidental airbag deaths to half a million traffic fatalities overall. Now ask yourself how many more fatalities there would had been were it not for airbags and suddenly the 227 number doesn’t matter as much.

[bru333]

You also need to check your local laws too. In some states it is now illegal to remove your airbag. It used to be there was only a Federal law that prevented shops from taking them out. But now the states are getting into it too, and are making it illegal for even the car owner to take them out. They check at the annual saftey/emissions inspection.

Personally, I don't own a car with an air bag, and would remove them if I bought one that had them. Its my car I should be able to do what I want with it. If I sold the car I would put them back in. (I really don't plan on buying any newer vehicles anytime in the future)

http://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/show...hreadid=276025


http://www.legis.state.wi.us/statutes/01Stat0347.pdf

[jerrysta]

Thanks for the info guys. It looks like so far there are no votes for removing the stock wheel.

[Joe K. 99 Zeee!!]

Well, shoot...late to the game, but might as well pile it on...

I think the 4th gen airbags deploy at speeds over 25 mph when the impact is w/n 15 degrees of the centerline. It's in the 4th gen FAQ somewhere.

Anyway, once you impact, controlling the car wouldn't be that much of an issue anymore. At least that's my opinion....

Sorry, bro!

[redws6]

So it seems most of us would say leave the bag and the wheel alone?

bags are better than no bags.

[Heath]

I would like to put a 2nd generation TA (Formula) steering wheel on my car, but I don't know if it is possible. I also know that my wife would frown on it, so I haven't even approached the subject. I am the only driver, but the shop said they have to disable both airbags to do it. (I have talked to a shop, even though I haven't talked to my wife). I guess I will forget about it for now.

[DeWynter]

I have no air bags in my 89, missed them by one month. I have the same steering wheel as the guys with airbags but no bag behind the center section . So its obvious to me that GM was gearing up to put them in but must have delayed it for a year. Or were trying to make it an easier swap over in 90 by having some parts ready and compatible to start with. As for me If I had the bags Id keep them. A fancy steering wheel isnt worth your life or even the posibility it might save you. Just my 2 cents

[Kevin - Blown 95 TA]

I think removing the air bag might put you at odds with your insurance company, especially if it is standard equipment and they are assuming the bag is in there. If you had a wreck and the investigator found out you didn't have it, they might void and cancel your policy.

[Formulaboy95]

The airbags deploy so fast you probably wont even notice it... I didn't. 2 mins later it hit me that they went off! I bought a used drivers side off ebay for cosmetic looks only (not plugged in) . I really don't feel safe with passengers in my car, and drive like a granny when they are in the car with me. Personally, I would keep the bags.