Most new cars have a front airbag for the driver as standard equipment. Front airbags operate in a severe frontal collision. Crash sensors detect the sudden reduction in speed and send a signal to the airbag inflator which fills the bag with a gas.
Full inflation occurs faster than the blink of an eye.
The bag begins to deflate instantly, in a controlled way, to cushion the impact. Although airbags are relatively new in Europe, studies are showing that in accidents there is a reduction in the frequency of severe head injuries experienced by drivers in cars equipped with airbags. In order to do their job properly in a severe front impact, airbags inflate very quickly with a considerable amount of force. This can sometimes cause injuries such as abrasions and slight burns, but these are minor compared with the serious injuries which could have occurred if the airbag had not been present. However, serious or fatal injuries can be caused if an occupant is too close to an airbag when it inflates.