Why do curtain airbags deploy?
Curtain airbags are activated in side impact crashes, for example t-bone crashes, or collisions with trees and poles. They deploy from the top of the door rails above the side window and work by providing cushioning between the driver or passenger’s head and the window.
Where are the curtain airbags on a car?
Curtain airbags are side airbags that protect the head. They immediately activate during a side impact crash and deploy atop the door rails above the side windows.
When do side curtain airbags deflate after impact?
When the bags deploy, they remain inflated longer than their non-rollover counterparts to compensate for the additional time vehicle occupants are in danger. Regular airbags deflate immediately after the impact, usually less than a second after they are deployed.
When did side curtain airbags become mandatory in the US?
Dual front airbags became federally mandated in the United States for the 1998 model year (see How Airbags Work for an overview). Side curtain airbags are designed to complement traditional airbag systems to create safer vehicles all around. They’re currently optional in the United States,…
Where do the airbags go in a car crash?
They immediately activate during a side impact crash and deploy atop the door rails above the side windows. They work by cushioning between the driver or the passenger and the window. They stay in place to protect the head when the car rolls over.
How are side curtain airbags designed to deploy?
Side curtain airbags can be designed to deploy in a rollover crash. Sensors that measure a vehicle’s sideways movement and tilting can detect if a rollover is about to occur, triggering deployment.
When do frontal airbags need to be deployed?
Airbags are designed to deploy at a collision speed above 25km/h and when the angle of impact is about 30 degrees on either side of the car’s direction – this means frontal airbags won’t deploy in the event of a side impact or rollover.
Why are there curtain airbags in micro cars?
Curtain airbags can also be especially helpful as sub-compacts come into vogue. Though structural integrity of tiny cars is often questioned by consumers and regulators, a new microcar will use curtain airbags to help protect its passengers’ necks. If curtain airbags prove effective for rear collisions,…
How many lives have been saved by side curtain airbags?
A side curtain airbag used to meet the federal safety standard to prevent occupant ejection remains inflated for more than 10 seconds, covering multiple rolls of the vehicle, and keeps occupants contained inside. NHTSA estimates that as of 2017, 50,457 lives have been saved by frontal airbags ( National Center for Statistics and Analysis, 2020 ).