My parents crashed there S60 Volvo: No Airbags Deployed...HELP!!

[far2000]

At what velocity did the impact occur?

This really doesn't surprise me. Volvo are in general not very safe cars. Volvo recall close to 120 000 car EVERY single year. They always have glitches in production and reliability.

Impact happenedon about 120Kmph, And my dad told me he dropped 2 aroun 20-30kmph without touching brakes , as the accident was in an instant, my dad neva saw it coming.....

 

[coolraoul]

In fact, it is AFAIK not rare for an Airbag not to deploy in a crash at a relatively low speed that happens really offset and at an angle, against something that is neither moving nor as hard as a wall.

Because it's only a part of the car that crashes, the rest of the car isn't slowed hard enough to make the Airbag deploy, especially if the cow also was propulsed by the schock unlike a fixed wall or tree. So I would say, maybe it's normal the Airbag did not deploy in your case; and the most important is that your parents are safe!

However, if the pillar was bent inwards, it indicatres the shock was quite heavy. However, if the door and the side were scratched, it also could indicate that the shock was at a big angle, outside of the Airbag's 30°, even if a part of the car was destroyed.

Remember that modern cars are conceived so as to make the whole front of the car to absorb energy (thus, to look destroyed) even if only a small part of the front was hitted. You have a big piece of metal that distributes the energy to the whole front of the car, even if only a corner is hitted, so that much more energy is absorbed.

IMO, the angle was too important. It looks like an offset and angle crash.

 

[far2000]

Hey Farouk, so sorry to hear about your parents accident.

As for the the airbags not deploying from what I can read from your description of the accident then they performed exactly as they're designed to... rest assured Volvo still makes one of the very safest cars in an impact or collision.

Accelerometers that measure the rate of deceleration are designed into the sub-frame close to where crumples zones are located. Only if the nature (i.e. location) and force of the impact are measured within pre-programmed tolerances will the airbags deploy.

In this event, the airbags not deploying probably averted a much more serious accident.

Thanks Martin, Im in 2 minds now...i am disapoiunted that the airbags didnt deploy coz it caused some shrapnel fromthe windscreen 2 hit my parents in the face, light bruising, but im also sooo happy as they got out of it alive and in 1 piece, i am feeling guilty putting Volvo on the spot, as i have neva seen a vehicle take a Cow head on and survive in such a good condition...

But wat if there was a glitch and the airbag neva came on coz of a Factory Problem..??? What then..??



Thanx for all the replies so far, this is truly the best Forum for discussion and advice...

 

[Centurion]

Remember people, an airbag deploys at over 200 km/h. The last thing you want is that thing blowing up in your face while the car is still moving! Airbags ought not to deploy if they're not needed to.

You're right Martin and I've thought about that as well. Since his parent didn't sustain any injuries do demonstrate that the airbags weren't really needed. Airbags can be quite dangerous if they slap you in the face when you're unprepared.

 

[martinbo]

Impact happenedon about 120Kmph, And my dad told me he dropped 2 aroun 20-30kmph without touching brakes , as the accident was in an instant, my dad neva saw it coming.....

For this reason I can tell you now that the impact was not severe ENOUGH to necessitate the deployment of the airbags. The LAST thing you want is an airbag going off at 90 km/h. How on earth will you be able to retain control of the car if your hands just got blasted off the steering wheel.

Seriously, read my and raoul's previous posts. Your parent's Volvo performed admirably!

Volvo make exceptionally safe cars to this day...

 

[far2000]

In fact, it is AFAIK not rare for an Airbag not to deploy in a crash at a relatively low speed that happens really offset and at an angle, against something that is neither moving nor as hard as a wall.

Because it's only a part of the car that crashes, the rest of the car isn't slowed hard enough to make the Airbag deploy, especially if the cow also was propulsed by the schock unlike a fixed wall or tree. So I would say, maybe it's normal the Airbag did not deploy in your case; and the most important is that your parents are safe!

However, if the pillar was bent inwards, it indicatres the shock was quite heavy. However, if the door and the side were scratched, it also could indicate that the shock was at a big angle, outside of the Airbag's 30°, even if a part of the car was destroyed.

Remember that modern cars are conceived so as to make the whole front of the car to absorb energy (thus, to look destroyed) even if only a small part of the front was hitted. You have a big piece of metal that distributes the energy to the whole front of the car, even if only a corner is hitted, so that much more energy is absorbed.

IMO, the angle was too important. It looks like an offset and angle crash.

Even if the crash was in the front,But on the Right hand side..? (Directly in front of the driver..)..isnt it dangerous? what if part of the animal flew in2 the cabin..? or if the steering wheel flew backwards..etc....

 

[martinbo]

Thanks Martin, Im in 2 minds now...i am disapoiunted that the airbags didnt deploy coz it caused some shrapnel fromthe windscreen 2 hit my parents in the face, light bruising, but im also sooo happy as they got out of it alive and in 1 piece, i am feeling guilty putting Volvo on the spot, as i have neva seen a vehicle take a Cow head on and survive in such a good condition...

But wat if there was a glitch and the airbag neva came on coz of a Factory Problem..??? What then..??



Thanx for all the replies so far, this is truly the best Forum for discussion and advice...

The airbag is not designed to protect occupants from a shattering windshield - the windshield itself is designed to do that (safety glass - no long, sharp edges).

The chances of a glitch in the airbag system resulting in non-deployment are extremely low. If needed to, they will deploy 99.9% of the time. People have this unrealistic expectation as to how and when an airbag will deploy. An airbag is a Supplementary Restraint System and is designed to work in conjunction with all of the safety features, including seatbelts (!), in an automobile. Airbag deployment is violent and traumatic event, and if deployed under the wrong circumstances (such as this one) potentially life-threatening!

 

[coolraoul]

This is right, if the car wasn't completely stopped by the schock it is that the bull absorbed a lot of energy. It was moved away, and thus absorbed a lot of energy, so the car did not take all the shock like in a crash against a wall.

I'm with Martin, the shock was spectacular but not hard enough to make an Airbag deploy.

I've never heard of an Airbag deployment in a car that wasn't stopped by the crash. A really big crash makes it stop instantly.

 

[far2000]

The airbag is not designed to protect occupants from a shattering windshield - the windshield itself is designed to do that (safety glass - no long, sharp edges).

The chances of a glitch in the airbag system resulting in non-deployment are extremely low. If needed to, they will deploy 99.9% of the time. People have this unrealistic expectation as to how and when an airbag will deploy. An airbag is a Supplementary Restraint System and is designed to work in conjunction with all of the safety features, including seatbelts (!), in an automobile. Airbag deployment is violent and traumatic event, and if deployed under the wrong circumstances (such as this one) potentially life-threatening!

Howdo the Airbags Deploy, do they each have a senor? Or do they work in conjunction 2getha..? What abt the Side or Curtain Bags, Coz the Side pillar was heavily bent inwards, as it prob took the most powerful impact...

 

[martinbo]

Even if the crash was in the front,But on the Right hand side..? (Directly in front of the driver..)..isnt it dangerous? what if part of the animal flew in2 the cabin..? or if the steering wheel flew backwards..etc....

First and foremost, the front bumper and bonnet are designed to lift and deflect inbound pedestrians or animals over and away from the windshield area. To protect both the pedestrian and / or the passengers. If the animal, for whatever reason, did penetrate the passenger compartment then no airbag exploding toward the driver would've made a difference.

Interestingly the steering column in a severe frontal impact is designed mechanically to pull the steering wheel away from the driver.

The airbag is designed to cushion or slow the impact of the driver moving rapidly forward in the event of a severe frontal collision.

 

[far2000]

For this reason I can tell you now that the impact was not severe ENOUGH to necessitate the deployment of the airbags. The LAST thing you want is an airbag going off at 90 km/h. How on earth will you be able to retain control of the car if your hands just got blasted off the steering wheel.

Seriously, read my and raoul's previous posts. Your parent's Volvo performed admirably!

Volvo make exceptionally safe cars to this day...

But airbags do deploy even at over 200kmph at times....

 

[coolraoul]

Even if the crash was in the front,But on the Right hand side..? (Directly in front of the driver..)..isnt it dangerous? what if part of the animal flew in2 the cabin..? or if the steering wheel flew backwards..etc....

In fact, an Airbag only deploys in extreme shocks that could make you hit the steering reaaaly strongly despite the seatbelt.
It works in conjunction with the seatbelt that is the most important part of the Restraint System (now seatbelts are 'active": first the seatblet tenses themsleves and put you back on the seat, then the Airbags pops up and in the same time the seatbelts let you move slightly forward to avoid injuries of the thorax, and your head goes in the Airbag).

If you hit something hard like a wall or a tree, even at 30kmh the Airbags will pop up: the car is stopped instantly with an extreme deceleration.

If you hit something not so strong (a car that is parked, or a cow), the car won't decelerate that strong. It will loose a lot of speed, but not instantly because the object you hit will also absorb energy. In these case, you need a lot more speed to make the Airbag pop up.

Airbags only deploys if there is enough deceleration. It's not the impact speed or the deformation of the car, but the deceleration that is important.

And an Airbag is not there to protect you against an object entering the passenger's cell, your exploded windshield or anything.
Furthermore, the steering shouldn't move more than some mm in modern cars, because of the security steering that broke in case of a crash.

 

[martinbo]

Howdo the Airbags Deploy, do they each have a senor? Or do they work in conjunction 2getha..? What abt the Side or Curtain Bags, Coz the Side pillar was heavily bent inwards, as it prob took the most powerful impact...

Each airbag has one or more sensors depending on the model of car.

Like I said earlier, side and curtain airbags will only deploy if the car is t-boned in a 90 degree side impact. Want the curtain airbags to deploy? Go and park a car on a railway track and wait for the train...

The A-Pillar deformed appropriately to deflect the animal away from the compartment whilst absorbing the energy. This is a GOOD thing... if the pillar didn't deflect, then it means that it didn't absorb the energy or in other words cushion the impact. This could have resulted in much more severe deceleration or catastrophic deflection of the vehicle from its current path on the road.

Farouk, crash protection is so terribly misunderstood. A bull weighing 400 kg gets hit by a car - without warning - at 120 km/h and the occupants walk aways with cuts and bruises? A 5 star result in my books...

 

[Centurion]

This is right, if the car wasn't completely stopped by the schock it is that the bull absorbed a lot of energy. It was moved away, and thus absorbed a lot of energy, so the car did not take all the shock like in a crash against a wall.

True. Airbags tend only to be deployed when a car absorb enough energy bringing the car to heavy deceleration like hitting a tree, which would make the frontal structure crumble.

 

[coolraoul]

Howdo the Airbags Deploy, do they each have a senor? Or do they work in conjunction 2getha..? What abt the Side or Curtain Bags, Coz the Side pillar was heavily bent inwards, as it prob took the most powerful impact...

Front Airbags generally have two sensors, one towards the front of the bonnet, one closer from the passenger's cell. They detect the crash and its strength. But the key element is a decelerometer who calculates the strength of the deceleration of tha car. Even if the car is heavily deformed, the Airbags will only deploy if the deceleration is hard enough.

Side airbags also have a limited angle. Modern cars have doors designed so that if the're beeing hit at an angle, the object will slide all along the side of the car. it's only if the object hits the car directly (almost perpendicularly), thus won't slide away, that sidebags popus up. They are here to make you move away from the side of the car, they push you to the center of the car, and "protect" against splits.

The head-airbags are here to make sure that your head won't hit the side of the door, and to protect you if the car goes on the roof.

 

[martinbo]

But airbags do deploy even at over 200kmph at times....

No no, hang on... let me clarify what I mean by an airbag deploying at 200 km/h.

What I mean is: an airbag when activated will explode out of the steering boss at the velocity of 200 km/h toward the driver! Even in a 50 km/h frontal impact if the deceleration is severe enough.

[Edit: Now imagine you're not wearing your seatbelt in a heavy frontal impact; imagine you've just hit a tree doing "just" 60 km/h and the car comes to a dead standstill in the matter of 1 metre... your body is still moving forward at 60 km/h and the airbag is coming at you at 200 km/h. Mike Tyson ain't got nuthin on that airbag - it will certainly break your jaw, ribs, sternum if not kill you outright.]

 

[far2000]

ok,I think im getting it noww....Wow...Thanks guys, Martinbo,Cool Raul,Centurion and all,I appreciat all the info and advice, its truly amazing how far safety technology has gone....im truly thankfulk my parents are alive 2day, and most probably they are becoz of the technology available 2day...

i do feel much betta knowin my dads fav brand neva let him down...lol..now 2 go explain it 2 him is gna b a mission, im jus gna print all these replies out and giv it 2 him.....

 

[coolraoul]

Farouk, crash protection is so terribly misunderstood. A bull weighing 400 kg gets hit by a car - without warning - at 120 km/h and the occupants walk aways with cuts and bruises? A 5 star result in my books...

Word!!

The airbag is often seen as the Savior. It isn't. It's only a part of the Safety Concet of modern cars, and it is NOT a main part of it.

The two key elements are the seatbelt and the crumble zone/passenger's safety cell including safety steering.

In an older car, even with Airbags deployed, your parents would likely be in hospital right now.
Of course, maybe there was a failure in the system. But the fact that your parents are safe indicates that the Airbags weren't needed.

Tell them to thank Volvo that allowed them to be safe enough to fill this complaint...

 

[martinbo]

ok,I think im getting it noww....Wow...Thanks guys, Martinbo,Cool Raul,Centurion and all,I appreciat all the info and advice, its truly amazing how far safety technology has gone....im truly thankfulk my parents are alive 2day, and most probably they are becoz of the technology available 2day...

Here here to that statement! It's been my pleasure, my friend...

i do feel much betta knowin my dads fav brand neva let him down...lol..now 2 go explain it 2 him is gna b a mission, im jus gna print all these replies out and giv it 2 him.....

Good on you Farouk! And props to Volvo! Still one of the safest cars out there...

 

[far2000]

One again, A big thank you for every1....This was the first site i though off 2 find out how 2 Go forward after my dads accident,and i must say for automotiv Advice, therre is no betta site....Another round of thank yous 2 the creators and Mods of this site....I truly have been really helped..And without this site, i would have prob taken a verry drastic and not needed decision....




Farouk...