Airbag Statutes Rundown
The federal government has long mandated the implementation of airbags in cars and light trucks. The National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966 gave the federal government the power to regulate the safety of motor vehicles and set federal safety standards. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the federal agency in charge of vehicle safety, established Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard #208 in 1984. Since then, Federal Law has required manufacturers to install airbags in new vehicles.
Under federal motor vehicle safety regulations, vehicles must come standard with a passenger airbag. The regulation requires passenger airbags in a motor vehicle if "the applicable protection requirements of this standard are not met by the dynamic test prescribed by S7.2, until the passenger air bag has been completely deployed and deflated." NHTSA regulations provide that the main purpose of the passenger airbag is "to reduce the risk of injury to the head or neck of a person who is in the front outboard seating positions of the vehicle by the time of maximum deployment of a frontal crash protection system . "
In addition to actual federal standards for the installation of airbags, manufacturers of cars, vans, SUVs, and light trucks frequently voluntarily adopt Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) Standards. A CAFE standard sets an average fuel economy for all of a manufacturer’s model-year vehicles sold in a given timeframe. In some cases, manufacturers have substituted airbags to meet federal fuel economy standards. For example, in 2014, the Environmental Protection Agency estimated that roughly a third of all manufacturers used passenger airbags to improve the estimates for CAFE ratings.
On a state-by-state basis, the rules vary, and not all 50 states conform with federal law. All states except South Dakota, Utah, and Vermont, have adopted motor vehicle safety regulations that require the installation of frontal airbags. There is also an additional requirement in California that is stricter than federal law. California requires head protection as well as frontal protection. New Hampshire, the only state that has no specific airbag requirements, conforms its law with federal law.
Consequences of Deleting Airbags
Potential Consequences of Driving a Car Without Airbags
When it comes to driving without airbags, there are several potential consequences that motorists should consider. While many states allow drivers to remove their airbags for a variety of reasons, the potential implications are something that every driver should know about.
Perhaps the most obvious implication of not having airbags in your car is the greater risk of injury or death if you are in a car accident. Airbags play an important role in protecting drivers and passengers during what are often unexpected and dangerous collisions. If any of the airbags in your vehicle are missing or damaged, it’s a good idea to have them fixed as soon as possible to protect everyone on the road.
The reason for this is that airbags play an essential role in keeping travelers in the vehicle safe during a collision. The inflation of airbag is quite rapid and in additional to helping those in the vehicle avoid injury, it also protects those outside the vehicle. However, according to How Stuff Works, improperly deployed or faulty airbags can actually cause injury. This is why it is crucial that you consult with a professional regarding the condition of your vehicle’s airbags and whether you should have them replaced.
If your vehicle’s airbags are not functioning, it is likely that your state or municipality will have some kind of guideline as it pertains to driving the vehicle as-is. In all likelihood, however, you will need to have any missing or non-working airbags replaced to avoid being cited or fined. In some states where vehicles are inspected regularly, you may not even be able to get your car inspected without having functioning airbags.
Most states follow a pattern, whereby airbags found in vehicles are subject to the same rules as seatbelts. Not having working airbags on your car may impact your insurance costs, although most drivers won’t see a significant increase in their rates for this one factor. That said, if you file a claim for accident-related repairs and your airbags are uninstalled, you will likely run into a problem where the insurance company won’t pay for the repairs.
Failing to replace your airbags could also impact your ability to file a personal injury claim after a car accident. Many motorists will sue the driver who caused the accident for failing to pay their medical bills and for the pain and suffering associated with the injuries they suffered. However, if you did not replace your airbags, this driver will likely counter your claim by saying that you failed to protect yourself, thereby increasing the severity of your injuries.
This does not mean that you cannot still collect compensation for your injuries. However, you should know that if you decide to forgo replacing your airbags, you may have a tougher road ahead.
Exceptions and Special Cases
While the vast majority of vehicles on the road are required to be equipped with airbags, there are certain exemptions and special circumstances in which vehicles may be legally operated without them. For one, for used vehicles manufactured prior to 1990, federal law did not yet require the inclusion of airbags. So, there are still older model vehicles on the road not fitted with airbags.
In addition, there may be some classic or antique vehicle clubs that arrange for their members to drive as a group past the White House. Or, perhaps, you are invited to attend a wedding where a vintage car will be used in the ceremony. In such cases, it is entirely legal to waive the requirement for air bags for the activity, provided an exemption is requested from the federal government and the appropriate laws are followed to obtain the waiver.
There may also be certain cases where airbags can be shut off legally, such as when a vehicle is used for police or security purposes. In these cases, the airbags may be disabled while the vehicle is being used for work, but must be fully functional otherwise.
How Airbags Operate and Maintenance Aspects
All airbags are similar. There is a control module in the dashboard or the front of your car. When that control module detects an accident od sudden stop it sends a signal to your airbags. This enables the airbags to deploy (inflate) to cushion the impact of a crash. An airbag is basically an inflatable cushion that comes out of your steering wheel, console, or side curtains and protect you from injury in the event of a crash.
An airbag is an example of a passive-safety system that works in conjunction with these active safety systems to protect a driver in the event of a collision. The issue is that a lot of things affect the performance of the airbag system. The work that goes into making sure that the bag is in operable condition is minimal . A defect or issues with any of the active systems can lead to airbag system malfunction.
One of the few things that can go wrong with an airbag system is corrosion of the connections. In cold weather climates the salt on the road causes corrosion to occur. No connection lasts forever. The corrosion makes for less effective or no power to the airbag system. This means that in the event of a collision the airbags do not deploy when they should, thus leading to increased injury and sometimes even death.
The airbag system should be checked at least once a year during routine vehicle maintenance. However, if you are in a climate with heavy snow or salt then you should have the vehicle inspected for corrosion or functioning of the airbag system every 6 months. It only takes a few minutes and can save a life.
Upcoming Vehicle Safety Legislation
As technology advances, vehicle safety regulations will likely follow suit. Airbags have become a staple in modern vehicles, but their role in future car designs might change. For one, as vehicles incorporate more intelligent technologies such as autonomous driving or lane-keeping assists, the purpose and need for airbags may diminish or at least be altered. Cars of the future may not require a driver at all, which raises the question of whether airbags still serve a purpose if the chances of occupant injury are already minimized by the very nature of the vehicle.
Further, with the rise of ride-sharing services, it is expected that personal ownership of cars will go down. With this trend of more "strangers" using the same car, the need for seat belts and airbags becomes more relevant. In response to this growing market, vehicle manufacturers may have to find additional ways to ensure passenger safety while still minimizing costs. One possible solution may be to install highly sophisticated tracking devices that can detect an impending collision and then take action to reduce the impact. The physics behind such technology is certainly plausible. However, whether manufacturers of such technology can improve the accuracy of the devices to make them even more efficient remains to be seen.
The government continues to regulate airbag technology by mandating which environments the devices must perform optimally . For example, they are required to work even if the temperature outside is -30° C or humid, and they must work at greater altitudes where the air pressure is different. The government must also ensure that the devices remain cost-effective, and recent developments point to a declining price per unit. For example, in 2001, the cost was $500 per airbag, but it has since declined. The average in 2013 was only $200. With time, regulators may continue to mandate that these devices remain effective at lower temperatures and higher altitudes while also reducing costs. If so, the implementation of such measures may depend upon the success of airbag equipment for such conditions in other countries. Another anticipated future trend in car safety regulations is an increased effort to educate consumers. Car manufacturers are already required to detail the amount of energy a vehicle carries, but consumers may start to see regulations require more. For example, regulators may ask for more information on how passengers can keep themselves safe in the event of unexpected hazards. Furthermore, states may also start considering insurance company data when formulating airbag safety regulations. If an insurance company can provide information on how many accidents occur where airbags deployed were ineffective in protecting a consumer, it may be used as support for more mandates.