Air Bag Activation

[Airrex7]

03 Galaxy 2.3 auto.

 

Hi,

 

My Galaxy is fitted with front and side air bags, what collision speed if any should these air bags activate?

[insider]

There isn't a collision speed at which they will activate but a deceleration above a certain level, i.e. it depends how quickly whatever you hit makes you slow down!

If you hit a solid object like a brick wall or tree you will stop very quickly even from a low speed and the airbag would probably activate.

If you're travelling at 70mph and hit a car in front of you travelling at 60mph they probably wouldn't activate because the deceleration won't be that much.

So, it's not the speed you're travelling when you have a collision but how quickly you decelerate that determines whether or not the airbags are activated.

[Airrex7]

There isn't a collision speed at which they will activate but a deceleration above a certain level, i.e. it depends how quickly whatever you hit makes you slow down!

If you hit a solid object like a brick wall or tree you will stop very quickly even from a low speed and the airbag would probably activate.

If you're travelling at 70mph and hit a car in front of you travelling at 60mph they probably wouldn't activate because the deceleration won't be that much.

So, it's not the speed you're travelling when you have a collision but how quickly you decelerate that determines whether or not the airbags are activated.

 

Thank you insider,

 

Do airbags, ( Galaxy ), operate if you reverse into a wall or tree?

[Mirez]

Do airbags, ( Galaxy ), operate if you reverse into a wall or tree?

 

The front ones wouldn't.

 

You normally need two inputs to trigger activation and these are given by sensors - one in the crash zone and one (as insider said) measuring velocity - in a "normal" head-on impact the crash sensor activates and sends its signal to the controller, the controller will then examine the rate of deceleration and if significant will activate one or more airbags.

 

Typically a front airbag will only be deployed in a front impact of up to 30 degrees from dead ahead. Without the front crash sensor activating (ie rear collision which hasn't pushed the car into anything else) the front airbags should not deploy.

 

Why'd you ask?

[gregers]

you aint reversed into a tree have you????

[big_kev]

03 Galaxy 2.3 auto.

 

Hi,

 

My Galaxy is fitted with front and side air bags, what collision speed if any should these air bags activate?

 

Assuming the object you hit is substaintial ( brick wall, or a stationary vehicle ) the airbag will deploy at speeds greater than 10-15mph.

 

The same for a side impact small car hitting you at greater than 15mph or larger vehicle at greater than 10mph.

[Airrex7]

Hi and thanks to everyone who responded.

 

Basically I found myself in situation the other day, I drove down what is usually a two way road but to due to road works temporally one way,-----I found myself against the traffic flo..

 

To correct my error I reversed, my intention being to get into a side road 50 odd yards behind me, turn the vehicle around and be on my way.

 

As I reversed a driver exiting from a petrol station,---- well we collided,--damage, my rear driver side section of bumper became detached but still in place,--- the other driver, the front drivers side wing, ( old BMW ) was damaged, it will need replacing.

 

I estimate I could have doing no more then 10mph in reverse when collision happened.

 

We got out swapped details, no injuries, I took photos, thank goodness, it really was a minor collision.

 

But I knew it wasn't going to end there,---I was right,------received correspondence today from the other drivers solicitor today stating his client had received severe upper body and neck injuries,---hmmmmm.

 

I have let my insurance company know, fortunately I have bib and brace insurance and they will deal with it all but I have told them I utterly refute the collision could have caused any bodily injury and the other driver was responsible for the incident.

 

My vehicle went into inspection/repair today and I'm driving around in a small courtesy vehicle,---wait for it,---a small Toyota Yaris, all 19 stone of me,---I'm missing my Gal already.

 

The other driver is claiming he may not be able to work again due to his severe injuries, this is the same driver who jumped out of his vehicle, walked around, spoke to others on his mobile , wanted to stand around for another 15 minutes while he to got someone to take photos and jumped back into his car and drove off and not once complained of any pain or injuries.

 

It was a bump but I doubt loose eggs in his passenger seat would have come to any harm.

 

I'm just finishing a letter with all the details to my insurers I was wondering if among many things I could also state my side or rear air bags had not activated or would that be a bit silly.

 

I was reversing but did have right of way in my opinion and as I said I don't think I was doing more then 10mph when the collision happened.

[big_kev]

My first advice would be to state the simple facts to the insurance company.

 

You were reversing down the road and the other driver pulled out of the petrol station into your path......almost certainly he would have crossed give way lines to do so.

 

The fact the road was one way should not really be relevant....what was your option.....stop and permanently block the road....... or move your vehicle.

 

With regard to the injuries all you can state are the facts of the collision, the insurance companies will be best able to judge whether the collision was sufficient to cause any harm.

You are unlikely to be medically or scientifically qualified ( and I doubt you know the medical history of the other driver) to comment on whether any bodily injuries could have occured......and to be honest it would be best not to get involved in this.

[gregers]

im surprised you wouldnt of thought of that yourself?

in this day and age even if you hadnt broken any eggs he will say you have,just to try and get a hefty cheque from your insurance company,im afraid thats the way of the world now days.

some people will all ways inflate the truth.

 

as kev has said best leave it to the insurance company to sort.

 

at least youve got a yaris to keep you company.

[Airrex7]

im surprised you wouldnt of thought of that yourself?

in this day and age even if you hadnt broken any eggs he will say you have,just to try and get a hefty cheque from your insurance company,im afraid thats the way of the world now days.

some people will all ways inflate the truth.

 

as kev has said best leave it to the insurance company to sort.

 

at least youve got a yaris to keep you company.

 

 

Hi Gregers,

 

I'm not surprised, truly I'm not, I got a sense I knew what he was going do or claim before he did.

 

I understand it I do, I guess I'm just pissed off with the way of the world as you put it in these matters.

 

I've taken it a little personally too, to have someone claim you hurt them physically and you just know/feel it's a lie.

[Airrex7]

My first advice would be to state the simple facts to the insurance company.

 

You were reversing down the road and the other driver pulled out of the petrol station into your path......almost certainly he would have crossed give way lines to do so.

 

The fact the road was one way should not really be relevant....what was your option.....stop and permanently block the road....... or move your vehicle.

 

With regard to the injuries all you can state are the facts of the collision, the insurance companies will be best able to judge whether the collision was sufficient to cause any harm.

You are unlikely to be medically or scientifically qualified ( and I doubt you know the medical history of the other driver) to comment on whether any bodily injuries could have occured......and to be honest it would be best not to get involved in this.

 

Hello big_ kev

 

I agree entirely with what you write.

 

As I said to Greggers, I'm taking it a little personally,---which is silly---but I'm sick to death of the litigious society we live in---- or with the hope of a large sum, the lie or exaggeration of harm in an accident such as this.

 

This type of lie/exaggeration cost's every driver,---I'm not out to change things,-- I can't but I will fight or protest in my corner as best as I can, if I have a say that is.

 

As you write tho, the insurance companies will deal with it all and I have no intention in getting involved except where asked or having to do so.

 

Still thanks to Mirez, Insider and yourself at least I know a little more on how/what makes airbags activate.

 

The repair center phoned me today informing me they have stripped the car and waiting for the go ahead and parts.

 

Can't wait to get the Gal returned, the Yaris is canning my back.

[cyborg]

well the way i see it is that you have done your upmost to maintain a degree of compassion and respect for your fellow motorist over the years a genuine 'knight of the road' yes its true from time to time you will meet unscrupulous scroungers or freeloaders the dreggs of society. As an upright honest easy going decent sort you will of course be annoyed by the crap they try an tell others, idoits have a nack of getting other idoits to believe however it would be a rare one if some one with an ounce of commen sense beleived.

 

So chin up 'knight of the road' let the guru's do there stuff and move on to more important stuff

and let karma sort out the rest ;)

[Airrex7]

Hi, just a quick update, the repair centre have contacted me about my Galaxy they are replacing the whole rear bumper, driver side rear wing light cluster, replacing the reversing sensors and spraying the tail gate and bumper.

 

While my insurance is picking up the tab for this, they have told be

[JohnR]

Hi, just a quick update, the repair centre have contacted me about my Galaxy they are replacing the whole rear bumper, driver side rear wing light cluster, replacing the reversing sensors and spraying the tail gate and bumper.

 

While my insurance is picking up the tab for this, they have told be

[Airrex7]

Hi, just a quick update, the repair centre have contacted me about my Galaxy they are replacing the whole rear bumper, driver side rear wing light cluster, replacing the reversing sensors and spraying the tail gate and bumper.

 

While my insurance is picking up the tab for this, they have told be