If you are on this page and are reading this, you’ve probably been in a car accident, and your airbag ejected! But your airbags could also have been off for other reasons that are not as bad as an accident.
Welcome if you’re looking for knowledge on how to solve airbag problems!
It’s good for you if you are skeptical and wonder if it’s ok to drive your car after it has ejected one or more of its airbags. The answer is both Yes and No!
So, can you drive a car once the airbags have been deployed? Keep reading to know more.
Is Driving With Deployed Airbags Legal?
If you get a new car, it will indeed have airbags according to federal standards. Also, no laws prohibit driving a vehicle with ejected airbags.
But remember that the law has the authority to fine you if you drive one of what they call “unsafe vehicles.”
For driving in an unsafe car, a cop can pull you over, issue a ticket, and write a report. Also, don’t try to taper the car airbags if they are ejected due to malfunction or accident because this will also cause you legal trouble.
Insurance Requirements:
Remember to have proof of insurance because it’s likely against the law to drive your car after it has deployed airbags. Before driving while your airbags are deactivated or malfunctioning, ensure your insurer is on board. It is, therefore, a gray area legally.
Cars with ejected airbags will not pass a regular safety inspection. The cops can then rightfully pull you over because hanging airbags can impact a driver’s vision and car control.
Is Your Car Totaled If Your Airbags Deploy?
When airbags activate, insurance companies may declare a car a total loss. This occurs when the cost of replacing the airbags plus extra repairs is more significant than their real cash value.
However, especially in more recent models, an airbag deployment does not always translate as a destruction of a car.
Do Cars Become Not Driveable After Airbags Deploy?
While most cars turn off as soon as the airbag deploys for safety, some more recent models go one step further.
When the airbags activate, some makes and models are built or configured to prevent driving.
The purpose of this fail-safe technique is to ensure that no one tries to drive the compromised cars, therefore removing any possibility of a driver making a mistake. However, not every vehicle on the road uses this standard to disable driving after it deploys airbags.
Several drivers who have had their airbags deployed after an accident say that it’s possible that the older car models can still be driven.
How To Fix A Car That Won’t Start After Airbags Deploy
If your more recent car won’t start or shift into gear after an airbag deploys, here are some steps you can follow:
- Disconnect and re-connect the battery to reset the airbag control module.
- Reset the airbag-triggered fuel cut-off system.
- Inspect and swap out any blown fuses associated with engine operations.
- Use an OBD-II scanner tool to clear stored diagnostic trouble codes.
- Replace any broken airbags or parts.
After the fail-safe mechanisms kick in, you’ll need to carefully reset each system, inspect the vehicle for damage, and replace the airbag components before starting the car.
You should get professional mechanic assistance to repair airbags and other issues in your car.
When Do Airbags Normally Deploy?
When a severe frontal or side collision happens to a car, airbags quickly expand to protect passengers from a forceful impact on the complex interior parts of the vehicle.
When a person is wearing a seat belt, the front airbags can deploy at impact speeds of 10 to 16 mph. Accidents at slightly slower speeds can also cause the side airbags to deploy. Many airbags deploy simultaneously in more severe car collisions and accidents.
While airbag activation triggers automated shut-off switches in modern cars, some older models may continue functioning.
However, you should never drive a car with its airbags deployed for the following safety reasons:
- Inadequate safety in any future accidents
- Reduced clarity of vision
- Possible problems with vehicle control.
- Greater likelihood of getting stopped by the cops
What To Do If Your Car Airbags Deploy?
If your airbag deploys following an accident, follow one of these steps:
- Get healthcare experts to treat you quickly by calling your country’s helpline.
- Switch off the ignition.
- Take pictures to record accident information.
- Make a report to the police.
- Speak with your insurance company.
So, can you drive a car once the airbags have been deployed? This question should be safely asked of experts from your insurance company. Even if the vehicle starts up again after the airbag deploys, don’t try to drive it anyplace until your insurance expert tells you to.
How To Prevent Deployed Airbag Injuries?
You need to drive safely even after replacing your car’s airbags. Here are a few basic techniques to avoid car airbag deployment in the future:
Always buckle up when you’re traveling.
Aim to sit straight and away from the steering wheel. As a general guideline, sit at least 10 inches away from the steering wheel.
Ensure that your kids ride in the backseat facing forward. Even so, make sure your kid stays buckled up the entire time you’re driving.
Children between the ages of four and seven must ride in the backseat in a baby seat with their seatbelts buckled.
Final Thoughts
So, can you drive a car once the airbags have been deployed? Hopefully, this article should have answered that question.
Always remember that any future accidents could cause severe injuries to you or your passengers without airbag protection. So, after they have been ejected, make professional support arrangements to fix them and abstain from driving.
