MUKAK

I am wondering what would happen if you crash during HPDE and the airbags go off?????

i am thinking my neck will snap cuzz of the helmet

I have no harness, just seatbelts....

Cobra4B

Actually... it has been recommended that you use an open face helmet in an airbag car for this reason.

I have a G-force hybrid helmet.

ScaryFast

Except in the case of very small adults, if you're wearing your seatbelt you should not come into contact with your airbag.

At full inflation, the bag will extend from your wheel around 8-10 inches. How close are you with your helmet on when your belt is buckled?

MUKAK

i am 6" 195lb

My seat is all the way back

ZBRA

That's what our division of the SCCA recommends.

MUKAK

hmmm, why open face? weight less?

AU N EGL

The SCCA recended that "recomondation" as it was based on a formula car with air bags.

Just dont hit anything, or if your aiming at something Spin that car around before hitting anything.

Jason

I don't see the downside of the full face helmet and an airbag.

MUKAK

whip lash

i dont wanna snap my neck

tcmc5

Mine deployed when I ran head-on into a wall last year while wearing a full-face helmet. No issues whatsoever, though I was wearing a very good harness at the time. Even using the stock belts I would choose a full-face helmet.

Jason

I'd think the airbag would just catch your head and helmet and stop it from smacking the steering wheel. This to me would be a good thing. Especially if you don't have a HANS.

Jess03Z06

Not sure i would advise trying to spin the car around since side impacts are definitely not good if you get that spin wrong. Open vs. closed helmet, airbag or no, i'd rather hit with the front of the car. If you're worried about it, which isn't a bad thing to worry about, get a HANS or similar system. Even one of the neck pads from SIMPSON that goes between the helmet and shoulders is better than nothing.

Bill Dearborn

Even with a full race harness the belts will stretch at least 8 inches in a frontal impact at speed. They do not know how full face helmets would react when an air bag hits it on the chin section since nobody has tested them as tests have been done on uncovered faces. Will it twist backwards thus adding further injury, will it do nothing (preferred), or what?

Bill

robvuk

Wouldn't it hit your chin if it didn't hit the helmet? Either way your head goes backwards. But then if you are already traveling forward, the g-forces of the forward motion would hopefully be cancelled out by the push from the airbag. With or without a helmet.

jkonkle

just wanted to make a point about the 2005 model

be sure to use your KEY and turn off the PASSENGER AIR BAG since we don't have the weight sensing system. If you do go off road, you don't want it deploying - just add's more cost.

I saw a porsche with his deployed and it busted the front windshield too.

JK

Lancer033

in a formula car, the bag would push your helmet up and break your jaw. that's where the warning came from. Like AU N EGL said, the SCCA recended it after they realized it didn't really apply to production cars because the seat angles are so different.

Coc5

A lot of people, including some so called experts, wrongly have an understanding of how airbags perform.
If you are close to the wheel, the bag will hit you.
In an incident the bag inflates fully before your body even begins to move forward. The vehicle will actually crush about 18" in a collision before the occupants begin to move forward. If you are close to the bag, it will hit you as it deploys.
That is why small drivers get injured or killed by the bag because of the need to get close to the wheel to operate the vehicle. The bag will pop them.


If you are not close to the wheel, the bag inflates and then you go into it.
Like in this video.
http://www.gm.com/company/gmability/...how_work4.html

Now almost every driver bag are dual stage inflators. They have two types of inflation rates which has helped the smaller drivers to survive.
http://www.autoliv.com/alv/connect/H...+We+Do/Airbags

Researchers have determined that the risk zone for driver airbags is the first 2 to 3 inches of inflation. So, placing yourself 10 inches from your driver airbag gives you a clear margin of safety. Measure this distance from the center of the steering wheel to your breastbone. If you currently sit less than 10 inches away, you can adjust your driving position in the following ways:

Move your seat to the rear as far as possible while still reaching the pedals comfortably.
Slightly recline the back of your seat. Although car designs vary, most drivers can achieve the 10-inch distance even with the driver seat all the way forward by slightly reclining the back of the seat. If reclining the seat makes it hard to see the road, you can raise yourself up by using your car's seat-raising system (not all cars have this!) or a firm, non-slippery cushion to achieve the same effect.
Point the airbag toward your chest, instead of your head and neck, by tilting your steering wheel downward (this only works if your steering wheel is adjustable).