In the event of an automobile accident, many drivers are solely concerned with oil changes and tire replacements. However, these aren’t the only things that can determine your safety. The more essential component you should consider is the condition of your Supplemental Restraint System (SRS). This system utilizes sensors, seatbelt pretensioners, and airbag modules to effectively reduce the harm passengers may encounter during a car crash.
Just as frequent tune-ups may save your life, so can routine airbag checks. If these virtual devices are properly placed and maintained, they may be able to tell the difference between a severe and deadly brain injury.
What Is the Role of Airbags?
Airbags assist keep you safe in an accident by cushioning your upper body and head from interior impacts. Airbags saved an estimated 50,000 lives between 1987 and 2017, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
When a moderate to a severe accident occurs, the airbag’s electrical control unit triggers an inflator. An inflator ignites in less than a second with a chemical reaction, inflating the airbag. This cushion protects your head and upper body if you’re flung forward.
In a side-impact crash, side airbags protect passengers’ heads and chests from hitting the vehicle’s chassis, another car, a pole, or a tree limb. After a car collision, a side airbag may be the only thing keeping a person’s head safe.
For this reason, side airbags must deploy within 10-20 milliseconds of a collision. Side airbags can deploy when a vehicle hits a narrow item like a tree or telephone pole. They can deploy at up to 18 mph in more broad side-impact situations.
To avoid passenger injuries, keep a watch on your vehicle’s principal airbags.
When Is It Crucial to Check Your Airbags?
1. Routinely
If you bought a brand new vehicle, have the airbags checked after the first ten years and every two years after that.
If you’re looking to buy a secondhand automobile, be sure a trained expert thoroughly examines the airbags. In the worst-case situation, a faulty car part or a poorly positioned airbag might fail to deploy correctly and cause catastrophic head injuries or death.
2. After an Accident
Since airbags can only be deployed once, you should replace them after an accident. Before you go behind the wheel again, you should get this checked out by a certified repair shop. Otherwise, you might be the victim of an airbag scam. Dishonest mechanics may steal the money from high-quality airbags and replace them with low-priced or no airbags at all.
Remember to request a copy of the repair shop’s invoice to verify that you purchased the new airbag straight from the manufacturer. As an added precaution, ask a technician to let you see the replacement airbag before it is installed in your vehicle.
Conclusion
Do not skimp on airbag checkups and necessary repairs or replacements because it can mean the difference between life and death. You and your family’s safety is a top priority, so you need to make sure your car is always in top shape.
At SRS Restore, We repair seat belts and reset airbag modules. Instead of buying new, save money on repairs. We ensure that your airbags are up to code, so you rest assured your airbag safety systems are all in check. If you need to have your airbags inspected, repaired, or checked, call us today at (855) 552-7233 or follow us on our Facebook page.