Airbag Safety: Pregnant Women and Small Adults

When in doubt, have someone else drive.

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Belted drivers potentially at risk of serious airbag
injury are those sitting very close to the steering wheel.
But the same drivers would be at risk without airbags
because they’re likely to hit the steering wheel hard —
usually with the face — in a serious crash. They can
reduce the airbag risk without sacrificing the benefits by sitting
back and away from the wheel.

Most drivers, even short ones, can get at least 10 inches
from the steering wheel and still reach the pedals. The problem
often is that drivers sitting closer are leaning forward instead of
sitting back in their seats. They need only sit back. The few who
cannot get 10 inches from the steering wheel and still comfortably
reach the pedals may wish to consider pedal extenders
(call 800/833-0427 for information about these)...

Shorter Drivers Benefit from Airbags
The benefits for short drivers are illustrated by
two flat-barrier crash tests at 35 mph, each with
a 5-foot female dummy using a safety belt. The
driver seats were moved nearly all the way forward,
and each dummy’s knees almost touched
the instrument panel. One car had an airbag,
which effectively protected the small dummy. In
the other car — the same model except there
was no airbag—the dummy’s face hit the steering
wheel rim hard enough to bend it severely.

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