• Airbags can save lives in accidents.Jeep and car after the road accident. image by Dragan Trifunovic from Fotolia.com
  
  Airbags have been the symbol of vehicle safety since the government instituted a law in 1998 that requires airbags to be installed in all new cars. Since 1998, airbags have not only been created for drivers, but also for other passengers in the front and back seats to increase safety measures. Although airbags save lives, they may also cause injury if you don't adhere to the recommended safety tips.
  
  

Sit Back

• Airbags explode from their holsters as fast as 100 mph. The force at which they open can break your nose while saving your life. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) advises that drivers should push their seats back so their chests are at least 10 inches from the steering wheel. If your legs can't reach, adjust the angle of the seat to give you more space.
  
  

Keep Children Away From Airbags

• The force at which airbags deploy could be even more detrimental to the small frames of children. The ARISE Foundation advises drivers to "never place an infant carrier or child seat in the front seat of a car with a passenger-side airbag." The force of a blow to the head or chest could result in death.
  
  

Senior Citizens Beware

• Bones become more fragile as you age. Senior citizens face the same threat as children when it comes to airbags. Senior citizens are advised to sit in the backseat of cars because of the damage the impact an airbag can have on their bones. Safecar.gov, an affiliate of NHTSA, advises that people with fragile bones or other medical conditions that puts the passenger at risk of irreparable breaks to consider uninstalling the airbag.
  
  

On/Off Switches

• On/Off Switches can be installed for special medical conditions, elders licensed to drive and mothers with children who have to ride in the front seat. The NHTSA must approve on/off switches installation. With these switches, you can turn the power to the airbag off so that it doesn't deploy if you have small children in the front seat.
  
  

Remember Your Driver's Ed Instructions

• The instructions the driver's education teacher gave you in high school are ideal to follow when driving vehicles with airbags. Keep your hands and 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock. The manufacturer's instructions of the vehicle most likely re-emphasize this. When the airbag activates, your arms won't be in the way to obstruct it from activating properly. Be a defensive driver and pay attention to potential dangers ahead of you.