Transportation and Vehicle Safety: airbag safety, clutch pedals, clutch system

Question
my daughter is 5 foot 1 inches tall. ive been told that airbags are not safe for short drivers. how short does one have to be before an airbag becomes a danger? ive heard some people say it only matters how close you are to the steering wheel when the car is adjusted properly for you to reach the pedals. if you are too close in one car make and model, does that mean you will be in most other makes and models? how close is too close? are there any other criteria for safety with an airbag? thank you, sammie

Answer
Hi Sammie and welcome to AllExperts!

Airbags can deploy anywhere from  to 90 to 170 mph at 300 degrees Fahrenheit, and have been known to cause great physical injury and burns to those whose head, neck or facial areas come into contact with them.

When a driver is positioned correctly in the seat with the seatbelt attached, and maintains a correct distance from the bag, such contact should never occur. One should only receive contact injuries to their hands and arms.

The rule of thumb is any occupant sitting in front of an active airbag should have at least 1 foot between them and the steering wheel for the driver, or the front console (where the passenger airbag is located) for the passenger. This should prevent the bag from contacting the head and neck areas.

Usually, people under 5-1/2 feet have a greater problem maintaining this distance when they are close enough to utilize the gas/brake/clutch pedals.

I recommend that you have your daughter adjust her seat where it is comfortable for her, and then measure the distance from the center of the steering wheel to her chest. If that distance is less than 12 inches, you have a significant problem.

Work-around's can be an adjustable gas/brake/clutch system (engineered into the vehicle by the manufacture) that moves these pedals outward toward the driver allowing them to maintain a proper distance from the airbag, or you can deactivate this safety feature.

Remember that you can turn off the passenger side, but not the drivers side.

Should you decide to deactivate this system, it is legal as long as you have it professionally done and sign a waiver that you have knowingly removed this safety feature. You are also required to advise any future buyer of the vehicle that you have done this, or have it reactivated before getting rid of the auto.

I hope this has helped!

Terry