Life-saving airbags in the car should not become deadly, keep these tips in mind

New Delhi: As soon as we hear the name of airbag installed as a safety feature in vehicles, a picture comes to our mind of a feature which helps in saving the lives of car riders in case of an accident. But do you know that if used improperly, an airbag can even kill you? Yes, it is absolutely true that if an airbag opens in front of a person who is not wearing a seat belt, his/her life can also be lost.

Airbags open at a speed of 320 km per hour

It is necessary for everyone sitting in the car to wear a seat belt, but if your car has airbags then it becomes more important to wear a seat belt. In fact, in case of an accident, the system of airbags opens them at a speed of about 320 km per hour. In such a situation, if the seat belt is not worn, the car rider will also move forward too fast and his/her neck bone may break. This can prove to be extremely dangerous especially for small children sitting in the front.

Correct use of seat belt is important

There is no doubt that airbags are a great safety feature but some recent incidents have raised questions about their correct use. A similar incident happened in Vashi area of ​​Mumbai on Saturday night. Six-year-old Harsh Arethiya was sitting in the front passenger seat of his/her father’s car when the car’s airbags deployed following a minor accident. Doctors said that Harsh had no external injuries and his/her death could have been due to airbag shock and internal bleeding. Similarly, on September 29, a two-year-old girl in Kerala, who was sitting in her mother’s lap, died of suffocation due to an airbag. A week earlier, a one- and two-year-old child sitting in the front passenger seat in Ukraine died from injuries believed to be caused by an airbag.

Keep these things in mind

1. Obey the seat belt rule with airbags. Make it a habit to wear your seat belt as soon as you sit in the car.
2. Do not seat small children in the front seats at all, they may be in danger there.
3. For small children, install good quality child seats on the rear seats.
4. Booster seats are also available for slightly older children after which they can use seat belts.
5. Even in vehicles which do not have airbags, small children should not be seated in the front.

Airbags can open even in a parked vehicle

Generally people think that if they are driving around the house or going to the market then they do not wear seat belts. They think that airbags open only during serious accidents. but it’s not like that. Even if you are driving slowly, if another vehicle hits you fast, the airbags may deploy. If this happens even in a parked vehicle, the airbags will deploy. In such a situation, always wear seat belt and make children sit at the back.

Airbag is a useful feature

After incidents like this, it should not be assumed that airbags are dangerous. This is a very useful feature. At present, two airbags are mandatory in all new vehicles. The government is also considering making 6 airbags mandatory. Apart from two front airbags, it includes side airbags and curtain airbags. These can cover the entire cabin in case of an accident.