Facts about airbags

Vehicles with airbags have the markings “Air Bag,” “SRS”  (supplemental retraining system), or “SIR” (supplemental inflatable  restraint) on the steering wheel and dashboard panel. The vehicle should  also have a warning label on the sun visors, the sides of the open door  frame, and in the vehicle owner’s manual.

Airbags protect adults in front-end collisions by inflating at speeds up to 200 miles per hour.

The blast of energy from an inflating airbag can severely hurt or  kill passengers and drivers that are too close to the air bag or who are  thrown toward the dashboard in emergency braking.

When used with lap or shoulder belts, airbags work well to protect  older children and adults who ride in the front seat, facing the front  of the car.

Children and airbags

A rear-facing child seat could be struck by the airbag with enough force to cause serious or fatal injuries to a baby. DO NOT PLACE AN INFANT IN A REAR FACING INFANT CARSEAT IN A FRONT SEAT OF A VEHICLE IF THE VEHICLE HAS AIRBAGS.

Children who have outgrown child seats are at risk from a deploying  airbag if they are not properly restrained with a properly fitting lap  or shoulder belt.

The rear seat is the safest place for children of any age to ride!

An infant in a rear-facing child seat must ride in the back seat if  the vehicle has a passenger side airbag. For more information on car  seats please refer to the Car Seats page.

Make sure everyone in the front seat is properly buckled up and seated as far back from the airbags as is reasonably possible.

Make sure that all young children are properly secured in a child safety seat. Older children should be properly restrained by a lap or shoulder belt.

For more information call the NHTSA Auto Safety Hotline at 1-800-424-9393.

Photos courtesy of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).