Airbags take the place of safety belts. Airbags are designed to supplement the effectiveness of safety belts. They are not designed to be used alone. Airbags work in collisions from all directions. Airbags are designed primarily for head-on collisions, not side or rear collisions, or rollovers.
Some vehicle manufacturers offer vehicles equipped with side airbags.
For maximum safety, always wear your safety belt. It is not necessary to wear lap and shoulder restraints in a car that has airbags. Wearing a lap belt keeps you anchored to the car seat. Your shoulder belt keeps your upper body from pitching forward and hitting the airbag as it deploys. To maximize the effectiveness of airbags, always wear your safety belt.