Autoblog

TSA reminds airline passengers to leave automotive airbags at home

Michael Harley — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 11:28:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Safety

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA), a governmental agency tasked with securing all modes of transportation in the U.S., has noticed an increase of airline passengers traveling with airbags - yes, the government-mandated inflatable safety devices that reside in our vehicles to keep us from impacting the steering wheel, dashboard and side pillars in a crash. While airbags are pricey commodities on the secondary market in the States, they are worth even more overseas says the TSA. Looking to save a few bucks, dim-witted passengers are packing the airbags in their checked baggage and carry-on luggage to avoid the legal (but complicated) shipping procedures.

As a refresher, the typical automotive airbag is quite the explosive little bundle - it does not make a great travel companion. Packed tightly within its protective covering is the folded nylon airbag - but that's the inert part. A tiny igniter sits poised behind the bag waiting for the signal to set off the solid propellant (think Space Shuttle SRB). When it goes, a large volume of nitrogen gas is released at about 200 mph - the bag is fully expanded in about 1/25 of a second (it will knock your peanuts clear to first class, if you were wondering).

Common knowledge says these things simply don't blow by themselves - it takes a 12-volt charge to set airbags off (don't try it at home, kids). In any case, the Federal Aviation Administration's Office of Security and Hazardous Materials has added airbag actuators to the list of non-approved hazardous materials. The TSA wants to remind everyone to ship the "hazmat" airbags via the proper channels - do not bring them with you on a commercial airliner.

[Source: Transportation Safety Administration, Photo by TSA]

TSA reminds airline passengers to leave automotive airbags at home originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Apr 2010 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Guy blows up Saturn, Ford airbags in a refrigerator

Chris Shunk — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 09:59:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Ford, Saturn

Click above to watch video after the jump

The Autoblog staff probably spends way too much time thinking about cars, and sometimes we find ourselves doing goofy things, as well. We can say that we've never fooled around with triggering air bags, but we're sure there are a few of you out there who have. One such person wanted to see what would happen if he hooked up a steering wheel air bag to a lead acid battery and set it off... while it was sealed inside a home appliance. Luckily for us those thoughtful farmers/junk car collectors caught the action on tape, and it's explosive to say the least.

The first air bag to find it's way into the refrigerator freezer is from an old Saturn, and since the airbag is larger than the confined space within the freezer, we weren't surprised that the door swung open violently. Next up the bat was an older Ford air bag, and we'd rather you saw the ridiculous results than have us explain them to you. Hit the jump to watch a late model Kenmore go nuclear. It's worth your time. For those of you unwilling to sit through the nearly six minutes of painful commentary, the Saturn goes off at about 1:50, and the Ford sends a Bud Light can into orbit at about 3:50. WARNING: There are some colorful words thrown around when the cameraman burns himself on the spent airbag.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Guy blows up Saturn, Ford airbags in a refrigerator

VIDEO: Guy blows up Saturn, Ford airbags in a refrigerator originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Sep 2008 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Forbes names least safe cars of 2007

Chris Tutor — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 18:41:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Safety, Chevrolet, Ford, Saturn, Suzuki, Toyota

In an obvious effort to keep its readership alive (and in turn circulation numbers up) Forbes magazine has made a list of the least safe cars of 2007. Before the flame wars start, note that cars on the list are not necessarily unsafe, but instead are not as safe as other cars available. Therefore, they are the least safe 2007 model year cars.

Most of the vehicles on the list are there because they don't have standard side air bags. But three -- Saturn's Ion, as well as Suzuki's Aerio and Forenza -- made the cut even with side air bags. To understand why these particular vehicles were named in the article, Forbes outlines its methodology, which includes crash tests, injury claims and the opinions of Consumer Reports' researchers.

The seven models named by Forbes are after the jump.

[Source: Forbes Magazine]

Continue reading Forbes names least safe cars of 2007

Forbes names least safe cars of 2007 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Nov 2006 18:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NHTSA requires disclosing "black box" details

Eric Bryant — Tue, 22 Aug 2006 11:04:00 EST

Filed under: Recalls, Safety, Technology

Starting in 2011, automakesr will be required to inform consumers if their new vehicle includes an event data recorder, or "black box". Such devices have recently come under fire from privacy advocates, as manufacturers have been somewhat less than forthcoming about information on the devices.

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) will also require that any data recorder be capable of gathering at least 15 pieces of information, but stopped short of requiring that the devices be installed on every new vehicle. Currently, over 60% of new vehicles include black boxes that are triggered by the deployment of a vehicle's supplemental restrain systems.

As expected, no one seems satisfied with NHTSA's ruling. Public Citizen's Joan Claybrook was quite unhappy after hearing that the recorders will not be required across the board, while representatives of the American Civil Liberties Union did not like the fact that certain issues regarding the use of crash data were not addressed.

[Source: AP/Yahoo!]

NHTSA requires disclosing "black box" details originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Aug 2006 11:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Second generation air bags safer for kids, still safe for adults

Erin Mays — Wed, 12 Jul 2006 18:51:00 EST

Filed under: Safety

Reuters reports that second-generation air bags are less risky for children while still providing appropriate levels of safety for larger adults. The development is a vast improvement upon earlier generation air bags, which were developed to protect an average size male and could be lethal for smaller adults and children.

When cars were equipped with the second-generation air bag in 1998, critics voiced fears that making air bags safer for smaller people necessarily increased risks for larger people. However, data recently gathered in a University of Washington study shows these fears to be unfounded. The second-generation air bags, which deploy with less force and provide other advancements, provide just 10 percent higher risk of death in children over no air bag compared to 66 percent more risk with first-generation air bags.

The moral of the story? Kid-safer air bags aren't offset by higher risk to larger adults.

[Source: Reuters]

Second generation air bags safer for kids, still safe for adults originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 Jul 2006 18:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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