How Poor Quality Repairs Affect Air Bag Timing

“During this time, the occupants move forward. If there are no seatbelts or air bags, the occupants will hit the steering wheel, windshield, or dashboard. This normally occurs just before the car completely stops. The occupants continue to travel at the speed they were originally going and only slow down when they hit something.”



This is, of course, where injuries occur and is often referred to as “the second collision.” The effects of the second collision can be minimized through proper air bag timing. The air bag deploys between the time of the initial impact and the second collision. The diagram below demonstrates how it actually catches the driver as it deflates.

If the air bag deploys at the right time, it cushions the occupant. If the structure of the vehicle crumples at a faster rate than the crash pulse triggers the air bag, the occupant will likely hit an inflating airbag or the steering wheel, dashboard, or windshield; all of which will cause more injury than hitting a deflating air bag. In other words, if the structure is too soft, the air bag is late.



Conversely, if the vehicle is reinforced beyond pre-accident condition, it can also affect the timing of airbag deployment. In this instance an air bag would deploy too soon, meaning it would already be too deflated to effectively catch the occupant in the second collision. In other words, if the structure is too stiff, the air bag is too early. (See Diagrams)

This is why returning a vehicle to pre-accident condition is vital to your safety in the next crash. If you have been in an accident, a post-accident repair inspection is always a good idea to insure that your vehicle was properly repaired.