<snip>
If you keep your hand above the wheel, say 12 oclock, and should hte airbag
go off, that's definitely a no-no. best place for hands is 9 and 3, so the
bag will push them to the sides, like you are give
the bag a big hug. 10 and 2 is sort of borderline, despite what others might
say, i dont like it, preferring 9-3 m'self. as for the glasses bit, well,
can't really say. I wear them m;self but they're
poly carbonate lenses; how glass fares is another matter.
http://www.iihs.org/safety_facts/airbags/airbags.htm
good reading.
</snip>
Thanks for this - it was indeed good reading. Lots about child safety with
airbags, which doesn't apply to me (quick worried glance at girlfirend ....
phew, yes doesn't apply to me !!) Still, plenty of good stuff about
positioning to avoid injury.
What you say about hand positioning makes sense. And it's what we were
always taught when learning to drive (although I believe it's got more to do
with control of the vehicle in a skid, etc., than airbags - when I learned
in 1991 the airbags still weren't in that many cars in the UK).
Good point re the polycarbonate "glasses". Suppose mine might be too.
Haven't checked - just thought "glasses", they'd be glass then wouldn't they
!!
Despite my worries, I still wouldn't want to have a car without one. That
steering wheel always looks mighty close and mighty hard to me, despite
being quite tall and sitting a long way back. And the pictures on that site
certainly confirmed the sort of injury I can expect from the wheel if I
don't have an airbag. Scary.
Oh, forgot to mention, also have pre-tensioners on the belts too. And the
one thing I have always hated (damned lap-belts) are slowly being replaced
over here with many new cars having a 3-point belt in the middle rear seat.
I've known a couple of people (young adults / teenagers) who've had
accidents with those lap-belts, correctly positioned, and they both had to
have chunks of their small intestine removed as a result. Better than not
wearing the belt, I know, but still hardly ideal.
When I was a kid (late 70's, early 80's) front seatbelts were "voluntary" to
wear, and non-existent in the back. As a child I was allowed to stand in
the back, one foot in each footwell. I also used to lie on the rear
parcel-shelf sometimes. I shudder to think of the outcome of any accident.
Guess I was lucky. No-one really knew any better then. I'm glad we have
caught up with the US in terms of car safety (or at least, that's the way it
seems !).
Right, enough of my OT ramblings, and it is good to hear that the safety
devices did their job and saved John from serious injury. This list just
wouldn't be the same, etc...
Regards,
Jon
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