Air bags and small adults

[TechnoGranola]

A thread over in Car Seat chat reminded me that Transport Canada had a not too bad page with suggestions as to how adults can adjust their driver's seating position to ensure they are far enough away from the air bag. Anyone can have a poor seating position that puts them too close to an air bag, but smaller adults are more affected due to their size.

Here's the page with TC's suggestions http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/tp/tp13178/page3_e.htm#sub4

Feel free to post comments, additional info, additional suggestions, or talk about what it's like to be small driver.

[TechnoGranola]

I'll start with my story on being a small, adult driver. Having the air bag do more harm than good, has always been a worry for me as I'm not tall and I am very fine boned, so also have tiny stature. My first 2 vehicles didn't have air bags at all, so an air bag injury wasn't a worry. The last 2 vehicles we've purchased, mandatory criteria was that the driver's seat had sensors to detect how far the driver was sitting from the air bag and deploy the air bag with less force for someone sitting closer. As well as a height adjustable seat so that I'm not sitting with the air bag pointing directly at my head!

For our most recent purchase, I also added the criteria of having a steering wheel that was telescopic as well as height adjustable.

I feel better about my driving position with these features, but this is only possible for me because we our last 2 vehicles purchased have been new. Not everyone can or wants to buy new.

[Rosey]

Cars with adjustable pedals make the airbag safer for short adults.

[castanuela]

My SIL who is 5ft and like 100 pounds was in an accident and she was knocked out by the air bag.

[christineka]

I worry about this. I am 5'2" with a 22" torso. The seatbelt cuts into my neck. Would I be safer in a backless booster seat? Right now I am stuck with an older vehicle. In 9-12 months we will be buying something newer. I wish I could afford the cool safety features. What are non-wealthy people supposed to do to be safe?

Christine

[BeckC]

I worry about this too. I'm 4'10". I've got the seat and wheel adjusted so that my face is as far away from the wheel as possible, but it still worries me. I'd love adjustable petals.

I wonder about a backless booster too for DH's car. The seatbelt definately does not fit me right, although I sit very far back from the airbag. I don't think I'd be able to squeeze my behind into an actual backless booster, but maybe a cushion of some kind?

[azzuranotte]

The seat belt cuts into my neck too. While a booster would help, with short legs I'd have to move closer to reach the pedals. Maybe my next car will have adjustable pedals. I knew I was lucky the airbag didn't deploy, but I thought it was only because I was pregnant. Not that I was short, too.

[TechnoGranola]

My vehicle has both a height adjustable seat and seat belt, so I guess I'm lucky that I've not had a problem with the seat belt cutting into my neck. So, I adjust those 2 properly, then I tilt the steering wheel downward more so the air bag isn't aimed at my face, and I telescope it in, and also give my seat some recline. The Transport Canada page recommends at least 25 cm from the air bag (9.8 inches) and my dad measured me yesterday and I'm sitting around 15 inches. I hope it's good enough!