CRUNCH ! ! ! !

[tbomb]

judging by whats left of the grill, its not a limited.

 

[Stephen]

No its an XLT not a Limited. You can tell from the radio and the fact that the steering wheel was black, the seats are the kind with the inflatable bolster's etc.

Interesting point about the airbags burning people, removing skin etc. It is very true that first generation airbags were brutal, harsh chemicals, fast deployment etc. You'll be happt o know though that airbags in newer cars (99 on I think. maybe 00) have second generation airbags that time their deployment with the speed of the impact, so they don't have as much force. The newer chemicals that are used in the reaction that inflates the bag are much milder too.

 

[tbomb]

Originally posted by Stephen


Interesting point about the airbags burning people, removing skin etc. It is very true that first generation airbags were brutal, harsh chemicals, fast deployment etc. You'll be happt o know though that airbags in newer cars (99 on I think. maybe 00) have second generation airbags that time their deployment with the speed of the impact, so they don't have as much force. The newer chemicals that are used in the reaction that inflates the bag are much milder too.

thats very conforting to know. i have a 98 but id rather get a lil skin burn than get thrown through my windshield into oncoming traffic.

 

[Stephen]

May have been 98, I'll find out.

I'd like to know too, my Lexus is a 98

 

[Stephen]

Found it, they actually came out in 1998. We're safe

Most airbags that came equipped in vehicles manufactured prior to 1998, did not have a two stage airbag, also referred to as the next generation or smart airbag. These pre-1998 airbags were much more aggressive than they needed to be especially at lower speeds. At lower speeds and with smaller passengers and drivers, especially women and children, the excessive force of being hit by the airbag at speeds up to 200 mph, can have devastating results. Serious injuries, including whiplash, eye injuries, blindness, degloving , partial decapitation, quadriplegia and even death.

 

[Stephen]

Here's a good site about airbags, also states the 2nd generation bags came out in 1998.http://www.safetyforum.com/airbags/

 

[tbomb]

damn, stephen; youre pretty quick with the research thanks for checking that out.

 

[Stephen]

I can type stuff into MSN search like the best of em

 

[03ExplorerSPT]

Well I'm very comforted at the fact that I know my bags will take my face off. Oh well I guess it's still better than going through the windshield. Hopefully I'll never have to meet my airbags but I almost did on Friday.

 

[Silverblade]

Found it, they actually came out in 1998. We're safe

F-THAT I HAVE A 97 lol. Do some more "research" to prove its 97...

 

[sodjer6]

No it's 98, I'm pretty sure. My Contour was a '98, but the airbags still burned me(and graded my face, the doctors in the ER said it looked like I got hit a few dozen times with a 2x4)

 

[Stephen]

How hard did you hit?

 

[sodjer6]

about 35mph, I'm not even sure how I got to the airbag because I slid down the seat, kind of under the wheel. Not to mention the horrible bruises from the seat belt, I thought it had broken a rib or two, I feel sorry for those guys. Man to hit something head on at 60...

 

[MONMIX]

Many of the people I see comming out of air bag deployed accidents have " air bag burn " Looks like sun burn. You also see a lot of brused wrists, from the arms " blowing out" and hitting the windshield.
A few broken thumbs too.
Beats the alternative that is for sure.

The funny one is women with lots of make up. You'll see a near perfect face imprint in the air bag.

Usually a look of shock.

 

[Stephen]

Originally posted by sodjer6
about 35mph, I'm not even sure how I got to the airbag because I slid down the seat, kind of under the wheel. Not to mention the horrible bruises from the seat belt, I thought it had broken a rib or two, I feel sorry for those guys. Man to hit something head on at 60...

Something sounds very wrong here, one you shouldnt have slid under the wheel. I think this is why you experienced the skin scraping that is pretty uncommon...

 

[DocVijay]

Burns and scrapes are much better then a crushed skull from hitting the ateering wheel and windshield.

I wonder how much benefit they got from the brush guard?

 

[99explorer5.0]

Probably no benifit at all from the brush guard. It looks like the one i have and it will crumple on impact.

 

[Stephen]

You wouldnt want a brush guard that interfered with the way to body collapsed during an accident...

 

[DocVijay]

My thinking is that since a brush guard is supposed to be relatively strong, it would act as an extra crumple zone, and would absorb some energy in its deformation.

 

[TPLYNCH]

"Serious injuries, including whiplash, eye injuries, blindness, degloving , partial decapitation, quadriplegia and even death. "

I would think partial decapitation would = death.