(Airbags)
Written by Mark A. Oliver
Published by Alan Smith
Dec 9, 1995
To date, there have been reported a total of 25 deaths, 6 to 8 of which have been children, and 279 injuries from airbag deployments. That is total to date of 304 people reported killed or injured by airbags, (Actual numbers are most likely higher than just the reported cases). A total of 43% of all airbag deployments results in injury. These injuries range from broken bones to badly burned faces and loss of thumbs and fingers. By government and industry admission, airbags, when used in conjunction with seat belts add only 10% to at best 15% extra protection over seat belts alone in a collision. Although no e exact figures will be provided by government or industry, it is known that these air bags deploy at rates from 150 mph to 300 mph from your dashboard, with an explosive charge behind them.
Why then, with this many deaths and injuries reported have no explicit warnings, or concise information been issued to the general public before now, as to the very real hazards involved with airbags? Instead, the only thing most of us have been told or shown is the same unrealistic and deceptive slow motion video of a billowing, cloud like pillow deploying. Only the positive side of airbags have ever been relayed to the general public. They say they have saved 911 lives to date. If airbags only add 10% to at beast 15% extra protection over seat belts alone, would not the seat belts be responsible for most of those lives saved anyway? These 911 were most likely in high speed crashes, and not in low speed impacts where the airbags still deploy. There are cases of airbags deploying causing injury, just going over railroad tracks, or hitting chuckholes i the road.
Government and industry readily admit that seat belt use is essential for the airbags to be effective. What kind of safety system is this, that if one part, the elective (seat belt) part is not used properly, the other or passive (airbag) part can kill or injure you? In order not to be at risk of being killed or injured by the airbag, you must have a seat belt on "properly", and not be "out of position" according to government and industry statements. What control of position do you have in an accident? Seat belts don't "properly" fit smaller children, those too big for car seats but yet not large enough to have seat belts fit them correctly.
Even current warnings, after all these deaths and injuries have occurred, still only warn you to lean back away from the airbag, to keep your hands in a specific position on the steering wheel, and stay at least ten inches away from the airbag. All of this is necessary to avoid death or injury from a passive safety device? How can you do all of this when the impact of a collision throws you out of control and forward into the airbag? How can you stay ten inches away from the airbag if you happen to be a shorter, larger, or a pregnant person? How can you stay "properly positioned" in an accident when physics of the situation moves you forward to some degree even with a seat belt on correctly. The head and neck are especially free to move forward and into the airbag, even if the seat belt is on and "properly used". The other option given is to place children in the back seat. How safe and aware is the driver going to be constantly checking the children in the back seat?
Something is wrong with this whole picture. Who decided that this passive (no choice) system was good for us, while the good and sensible part, the seat belt, is left to choice? Shouldn't it be the other way around? Are they saying it is okay for these passive airbags to kill or injure children and adults if the elective seat belts are not used? Shouldn't we, the general public , have been better informed before now, as to how these airbags really deploy, and the hazards (especially to small children) involved? Let use make our own informed choice as to whether or not we want to use them. There are obviously flaws in the system or industry would not be "working on" new types of airbags and how they deploy. The existing airbag system now being used is about to go worldwide in use and production. They are going to be mandatory in all vehicles on both driver and passenger sides in one year from now. How many more children and adults are going to be killed or injured before something is done to correct the problems involved with these airbags? Action is needed now! government and industry need to take immediate steps to correct these problems or at least gave us the chance to make our own informed decision as to whether we choose to use the airbags or not. Perhaps then, no other parent or family will need to have their child die in their arms like I did.
Signed:
Mark A. Oliver
Grandpa & Legal Guardian
to Jordan West,
now deceased,
KILLED by an AIRBAG.
*all statistics mentioned in this statement can be verified though the Utah Highway Safety Division, Salt Lake City, Utah
Instead, the only thing most of us have been told or shown is the same unrealistic and deceptive slow motion video of a billowing, cloud like pillow deploying.Shown at real speed, one wouldn't see the airbag. They are very fast.
Government and industry readily admit that seat belt use is essential for the airbags to be effective. What kind of safety system is this, that if one part, the elective (seat belt) part is not used properly, the other or passive (airbag) part can kill or injure you?News flash - getting into a crash in a non-bagged car without your safety belt is also very likely to kill you.
Even current warnings, after all these deaths and injuries have occurred, still only warn you to lean back away from the airbag, to keep your hands in a specific position on the steering wheel, and stay at least ten inches away from the airbag. All of this is necessary to avoid death or injury from a passive safety device? How can you do all of this when the impact of a collision throws you out of control and forward into the airbag?If you are wearing your seat belt properly, you will not be thrown out of control and forward into the airbag.
If you do not have airbags and you do not have your seat belt, do you know what's going to happen to you? You may wind up going through the windshield, crushing your rib cage as you hit the steering wheel and/or dash, or getting your legs caught under the dashboard.
The head and neck are especially free to move forward and into the airbag,Sure beats having them move forward into the steering wheel rim.
Who decided that this passive (no choice) system was good for us, while the good and sensible part, the seat belt, is left to choice?I'll tell you who decided - the thousands of Americans who refused to wear their belts and kept getting themselves killed in crashes, until the government decided to get involved.
Are they saying it is okay for these passive airbags to kill or injure children and adults if the elective seat belts are not used?If you plan to stay alive in a car crash, a seat belt is generally not "elective." I consider my seat belt to be more necessary in protecting my safety than my steering wheel or my brake pedal. Case in point- all of the 5 people who can ride in my Neon get seat belts. Only one gets a steering wheel or a brake pedal.
Shouldn't we, the general public , have been better informed before now, as to how these airbags really deploy, and the hazards (especially to small children) involved?We are informed; we have stickers on our airbag-equipped cars instructing us to use our seatbelts. We, the general American public, largely do not listen. And we, the general American public, die.
Mean time, some of us (present company included) have always worn our seat belts because it is simple common sense. For us, the airbag is an added measure of safety, and not a substantial threat.
Let use make our own informed choice as to whether or not we want to use them.Would that include seat belts, too? Let us, then, decide that we want to die in a car accident, and not the government.
How many more children and adults are going to be killed or injured before something is done to correct the problems involved with these airbags?How many Americans are going to continue to ignore the fact that seat belts save lives? Adults I can understand - hey, you can be stupid if you want. But when I see kids riding unbuckled in a car, it *never fails* to make my blood boil. Every time I see this, I want to suddenly be a cop, so I can pull these people over, look them straight in the eye, and say, "Don't you love your children?"
I still say that those of us who wear our belts have little to fear from the airbags. One big issue has been the problem of rear-facing child seats in cars with passenger airbags (a deadly combination). Ford is leading the way to eliminate this problem by installing a pass-side SRS defeat switch. Let's hope people use it sensibly.)
Perhaps then, no other parent or family will need to have their child die in their arms like I did.Perhaps people will adopt common sense and buckle up themselves and their children.
Again, you have my deepest, deepest condolences. May Jordan rest in peace.