Airbags

Airbags Protect Adults, Not Children

Airbags are designed to protect adults, not children. They work together in combination with the correct use of seat belts during a crash. With both seat belts and airbags together, they reduce the risk of death by 61%, compared to 50% with only seat belts, and 34% with only airbags. It has been estimated that 4,330 lives were saved in the United States in 2019, and 50,000 over the past 30 years. An average of nearly 5 lives saved every day (Kahane, 2015; Kahane & Simons, 2024). However, for parents and other caregivers, be aware that airbags can severely injury or kill a child. Learn more below, on how you can protect children from airbags.

Airbag Location and Logos

Cars, trucks, sport utility vehicles (SUVs), vans, and minivans can have 8 or more airbags, and depending on the vehicle type and size can have 20 or more. These can include front, side panel, side seat, back-window airbags, and airbag seat belts. Each airbag is designated with an "AIRBAG" logo throughout the vehicle.

Airbag Force

Airbags are designed for adults. During a crash, depending on the type and location of the airbag, it deploys between 100 to 200 MPH (20 and 50 milliseconds/161 to 322 km/hr.). When deployed it is designed to meet the passenger as the seat belt, when worn correctly will stretch, to protect the passenger from the crash force. While recent generations of airbags and recent designs continue to improve, airbags significantly reduces severe injury and death.

Airbags: A Danger to Children

Because airbags are designed for adults, they are extremely dangerous for children. Especially those in the front seats, such as in the steering wheel and dashboard. Studies have shown that children 14 years of age and younger are at a higher risk of severe injury and death when seated in the front seat with an airbag (Newgard & Lewis, 2005). Children are do not have the physical development to sustain the 100 to 300 MPH (20 and 50 milliseconds/161 to 322 km/hr.), impact from an airbag.

Children are more likely to be killed while seated in the front seat due to the airbag, they are also at a higher risk of severe injury to the head (Traumatic Brain Injury), neck (cervical spine injury), and severe injury to the chest (ribs), abdomen, and pelvis. The Crash Injury Research and Engineering Network (CIREN) found that child passengers in the front seats have more severe injury and death, compared to being properly restrained in the back seat (Durbin et al., 2001; Ehrlich et al., 2006).

When Driving - Children Ride in the Back Seat

The weight and height of a child is unable to withstand this force of an airbag. As a result, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends keeping children younger than 13 years properly restrained in the rear seats. Children are also 62% less likely to have a severe injury in the back seats, compared to the front seat (Durbin et al., 2001). Parents and caregivers are recommended to keep their children in the back seat as long as possible to be safest.

Keep children restrained properly in the back seat as long as possible
Never seat your child next to a side airbag, unless it is permitted as safe as designated in the vehicles owner's manual
Never allow your older child or teen lean against the side door, adjacent to a side airbag

When Parked - Children Remain Restrained in the Back Seat

Even when the vehicle is parked, if the vehicle is struck by a moving vehicle, the impact can activate and deploy airbags. For this reason, even when an adult is inside a parked vehicle with children, all children must be restrained properly in the back seat in their car seat or booster seat. Also, never hold or feed a newborn or infant while sitting in the front seat or allow any age of child to sit or play in the front seats for these reasons.

Remember that airbags are active, even if the vehicle is parked. If the vehicle is hit by another vehicle, the airbags can deploy. If a baby or older child is being held or playing near an airbag during impact, the force of the airbag deployment can severely injury or kill a child. A recent case of a 6 year old who was sitting in the front seat in a parked car when another vehicle crashed into it. the airbag deployed and the child was killed (News Desk, 2024). While parked, even with adult supervision:

Never feed, change or hold a newborn or toddler in the front seats
Never allow a toddler or child to sit or play in the front seats
When in the vehicle, keep children restrained properly in the back seat
Never allow a child or teen to lean against the side door, adjacent to a side airbag

Questions? Contact - National Car Seat Call Center

If you have child passengers, car seats or booster seats, including older children or teens who use seat belts, check locations of airbags in your vehicle by checking for logos or check your vehicles owner's manual for recommendations. We recommend that is parents or caregivers have questions regarding airbags and concerns, to call the National Car Seat Call Center 323-491-6197 to talk with a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician.

References

Airbags. (2025). IIHS-HLDI Crash Testing and Highway Safety. https://www.iihs.org/topics/airbags
Durbin, D. R., Elliott, M., Arbogast, K. B., Anderko, R. L., & Winston, F. K. (2001). The effect of seating position on risk of injury for children in side impact collisions. PubMed, 45, 61–72. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12214366
Durbin, D. R., Hoffman, B. D., Agran, P. F., Denny, S. A., Hirsh, M., Johnston, B., Lee, L. K., Monroe, K., Schaechter, J., Tenenbein, M., Zonfrillo, M. R., & Quinlan, K. (2018). Child passenger safety. PEDIATRICS, 142(5). https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2018-2460
Ehrlich, P. F., Brown, J. K., Sochor, M. R., Wang, S. C., & Eichelberger, M. E. (2006). Factors influencing pediatric Injury Severity Score and Glasgow Coma Scale in pediatric automobile crashes: results from the Crash Injury Research Engineering Network. Journal of Pediatric Surgery, 41(11), 1854–1858. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2006.06.012
Giovannini, E., Santelli, S., Pelletti, G., Bonasoni, M. P., Cornacchia, A., Pelotti, S., & Fais, P. (2024). Pediatric motor vehicle crashes injuries: A systematic review for forensic evaluation. International Journal of Legal Medicine, 138(4), 1329–1341. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-024-03174-7
Kahane, C. J., & Simons, J. F. (2024, December). Fatalities, injuries, and crashes prevented by vehicle safety technologies and associated FMVSS, 1968 to 2019 – Passenger cars and LTVs (Report No. DOT HS 813 611). National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/813611.pdf].
Kahane, C. J. (2015, January). Lives saved by vehicle safety technologies and associated Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, 1960 to 2012 – Passenger cars and LTVs – With reviews of 26 FMVSS and the effectiveness of their associated safety technologies in reducing fatalities, injuries, and crashes. (Report No. DOT HS 812 069). Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812069.pdf].
Newgard, C. D., & Lewis, R. J. (2005). Effects of child age and body size on serious injury from passenger Air-Bag presence in motor vehicle crashes. PEDIATRICS, 115(6), 1579–1585. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2004-0555
News Desk. (2024, December 25). Mumbai: Six-year-old dies in car accident, air bag injury suspected. The Siasat Daily. https://www.siasat.com/mumbai-six-year-old-dies-in-car-accident-air-bag-injury-suspected-3154118/
Philadelphia, C. H. O. P. (2025). Air bags. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. https://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/car-seat-safety-kids/air-bags