Children and airbags

The force of the airbag is very powerful and a child could be crushed and severely injured

Airbags save lives by these safety devices are essentially designed to protect adults. To do its important job, an air bag comes out of the dashboard at up to 320 km/h — faster than the blink of an eye. The force of an airbag can therefore hurt those who are too close to it.

There continues to be a worldwide debate concerning airbags and young children in the car. Because an airbag exerts such a powerful (though momentary) force when it inflates, a child seated in front of an airbag may suffocate or be severely injured by the impact of a rapidly inflating airbag.

Seatbelts are supposed to fit tightly across the chest and stomach areas so that you are pulled backwards into your seat (to counteract the fact that a crash or sudden braking will almost always send you hurtling forwards). However, depending on their height and weight, children under the age of 12 may find that adult seatbelts do not fit them properly. This can cause them to slide forward in the seat.

Different types of childseats for different ages (items shown are Volvo accessories offered in European markets)

The following advice from the Automobile Association of Malaysia (AAM) should be kept in mind by those who have small children in their vehicles

• The safest place for all infants and children under the age of 12 is in the back seat.
• Never put an infant in the front seat of a vehicle equipped with an airbag.
• Infants must always be carried in rear-facing car safety seats in the back seat until they are at least 10 kgs and at least 1 year of age
• All children should be properly secured in car safety seats, belt-positioning booster seats, or the shoulder/lap belts correct for their size.
 

• Seatbelts must be worn correctly at all times by all passengers who have outgrown booster seats and fit shoulder/lap belts properly to provide the best protection.
• Side airbags improve safety for adults in side impact crashes, but children who are not properly restrained and are seated near a side airbag may be at risk of serious injury. Check your vehicle owner's manual to see what it says about children and side airbags.
• If no other arrangement is possible and a child must ride in the front seat, move the vehicle seat back as far as it can go, away from the airbag. Be sure the child is restrained properly for his size.
• If your car has a passenger-side airbag that cannot be switched off, your child must be placed in a child seat in the back of the car. (Airbags that are turned off provide no protection to older children, teens, parents, or other adults riding in the front seat)
• Only the parent, or another adult, should undo and fasten the child's safety belt.
• If the child opens his or her seatbelt, pull over to a safe place and stay there until the child is safely fastened again.
• Do not place large and heavy objects in the car (on the back seat or on the parcel shelf) as they may be flung forwards in a collision and injure passengers. These objects should be stored in the boot.