What is the best place to get hit with an airbag?

You should aim it at your chest. The bag is large enough to cover your face too.
Also you should keep your hands at the 9 and 3 o’clock positions so they get pushed out if the bag detonates. (Used to be 10 and 2)

You got it – - – in the chest. Avoid nose, jaw and forehead

Neither one sounds very appealing. I thought I should ask just to be sure. :) Thanks!

Is it not possible, that a good blast to the chest will cause the heart to stop.

@ChazMaz I thought so, too. That’s what got me thinking about all of this. I hear horror stories about airbag injuries all the time. Is it powerful enough to crack your sternum? How far away should I be?

I think I am developing a fear of my airbag…haha

It is not appealing at all. But it beats the alternative.
I have set off at least 8 and they sound is very much like a 20 gauge shotgun. Imagine that in your car.
You shoulder harness takes the brunt of the blow from your body. The air bag is only extra protection. .

The only car accident that I was ever in was in a car that either didn’t have airbags, or they didn’t work, I can’t recall. I had my seatbelt on.. but I hit the windshield pretty hard and ultimately ended up in the backseat of the car. The airbag sounds better than the windshield… but pretty scary regardless!

8 seems like a lot.

I had one go off. It is funny you always see them go off in slow motion.

But when it happens, it is over before your mind even registers what happened.

@ChazMaz Did it push your hands off the wheel or did it abuse your hands from the heat or otherwise?

I’d like to know the same as @Adirondackwannabe , actually.

@Adirondackwannabe – I had slight scuffing on my face. I want to say it pushed me back. But it was so fast. One second I was driving. The next I was dazed from the bag and the car stunk from the squib going off.

Wait, 9 &3? I drive with one hand on the wheel.. usually closer to 12. So I’m assuming that means a shattered elbow for sure.

@TheOnlyNeffie I think that means shattered elbow plus the airbag is going to drive your arm into your face if you think it through, regardless of where the airbag impacts.

I think I am just not going to drive a car ever again.

And a Blackberry up your nose. Another big reason for not texting.

Luckily I don’t text and drive. I won’t even touch my phone while driving.

Dare I mention what an airbag blast will do to the glasses you might be wearing?

So what happens to your arms? If they’re at 10/2 or 9/3 are they just pushed to the sides or do they break? Eek.

I’ve been in some accidents that were pretty violent and usually involved multiple impacts, plus I wear glasses. So I guess I have to make sure it gets me in the chest.

No alternative sound good at all. Best to just not crash.

If I recall correctly, the most important thing is the distance between your body and your steering wheel. I think it’s supposed to be 12 inches away from you. That made it really hard to space it properly when I was pregnant.

One of my former employers, Motorola Semiconductor Products, makes the microprocessors that make airbags work. They’re called accelerometers. If you’re interested in the history of airbags and how they work, read this. It’s quite an interesting subject.

@Austinlad thanks!