Originally Posted by dad

comment from another site


Quote:
The airbag covers are intact, which means no airbag deployment. The airbag covers split in the midde (into top and bottom halves) when the airbag deploys, so it's not possible to "push" the airbag back into the steering wheel. Besides, unless it was refolded correctly, there's no way you could get it to fit back in there anyway. It's kind of like packing a parachute.

I saw this when it first hit the net, and read every article I could find on it, most of them bashing Hyundai for the airbags not deploying because they have no idea whatsoever about how the SRS system works. The airbag control module is the "brain" of the airbag system. It uses input from the various impact sensors (angle of impact, velocity), as well as occupant information (weight, seating position, seatbelt use, etc) to determine whether or not to fire the airbags in a collision, which ones to fire, etc. The airbag system is a SUPPLEMENTAL restraint system, meant to work as a means of restraint secondary to seat belt usage. The seatbelt holds you in the proper position for airbag deployment. I know from reading the articles on this accident that neither occupant was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident, and that both were severely injured. You can see the force with which the driver hit the steering wheel, as evidenced by the bend at the top. The driver likely suffered severe chest/abdomen/head injuries. As bad as that is, however, the SRS control module took all of these factors into consideration and determined that it was safest NOT to deploy the airbags in this particular accident. Had the airbags deployed, the unrestrained forward momentum of the driver and passenger colliding with the force of the deploying airbags certainly would have killed them both. It is sad that they were injured, but this is why there are warnings in the owner's manual and in the car stating that you can be killed or injured if the airbags deploy and you aren't wearing your seatbelt.
--------------------------------------
If the passenger wasn't wearing the seatbelt. Then why isn't the windshield damaged, from his head/body impact? There is no way he could remain in the seat "unrestrained", and not kiss the windshield!