SRS (supplemental restraint systems) airbags are a form of cushion or envelope designed to safeguard passengers during accidents. Car manufacturers design airbags to inflate during collisions, preventing car occupants from injuries or death.
For security purposes, car owners should also purchase an insurance policy alongside the supplemental restraint systems. Fortunately, it’s now easy to find good car insurance online to secure your vehicle.
This article explores what are SRS airbags, and how do they work? It also discusses the differences between SRS and normal airbags.
What are SRS Airbags and Their Functions?
Road accidents can happen anytime for multiple reasons, causing injuries or fatalities. That's why employing the airbag in your vehicle is crucial. It acts as an efficient safety system to help lower the impact of car collisions.
SRS airbags protect the passenger’s head and chest. They function alongside the seat belt to safeguard a traveller's torso. Generally, the supplementary restraint system helps save the lives of car occupants during an accident.
The restraint system controls the automatic airbags, seat belts, and restraints in any car collision. It's fashioned in such a way that it can quickly detect scenarios like:
- Braking.
- Deceleration.
- Impact location.
- The presence of a passenger.
The airbags often inflate whenever the sensors detect a collision. In such scenarios, they inflate within 0.03 seconds. Depending on the scenarios above, the system decides which airbag will inflate and which seat belt needs tightening.
Difference Between SRS Airbag and Normal Airbag
There's no significant difference between an SRS and a normal airbag. They are the same thing. SRS deploys the airbag in case of an accident.
The driver and right-front passenger airbags positioned at these seating positions are supplemental restraint systems alongside the shoulder/lap belt. They are meant to supplement protection for properly belted passengers during moderate to severe head-on collisions.
Modern cars have different airbag types, all needing carefully calibrated sensors for deployment. Besides, some newer supplemental restraint systems use dual-stage airbags, which are often positioned to release the needed force depending on the impact of the collision.
Nonetheless, all airbag systems work in conjunction with seat belts, hence the term "supplemental". They are indicated as SRS on the vehicle's dashboard or steering wheel.
Usually, if the symbol "SRS" flashes, it signals a problem in the system. If the sensors don't work appropriately, the airbag can't do its work.
How Does the Supplementary Restraint System Work?
The airbag works in conjunction with the different sensors connected to this system. It operates based on the signal picked up from the sensors, which determines the extent of the braking or deceleration.
The different sensor types connected with the SRS system include speed sensors, brake pressure sensors, acceleration sensors, seat occupation sensors, door pressure sensors, and gyroscope sensors.
During a collision, forces 20 times higher than gravitational force are necessary for the airbags to inflate and take action. Once the system detects sudden braking, the sensors transmit signals to the electronic control unit (ECU) connected to the airbag.
Individual airbags have different module layers, and the airbag module links to an electronic control unit. The module contains three chemicals as follows:
- Sodium azide
- Potassium nitrate
- Silicon dioxide
Thus, when a car experiences a collision, all the sensors transmit a signal to the ECU. Immediately, the ECU determines which airbag should inflate first. This process happens as follows:
- The central control unit alerts the inflator, and a chemical reaction immediately occurs in the inflator, leading to a nitrogen gas explosion.
- The gas fills the airbag and explodes through the panel holding it (dashboard or steering wheel), offering passenger protection. It takes approximately 0.03 seconds for the airbag to inflate.
- The airbag then deflates after the collision.
Advantages and Disadvantages of SRS Airbags
The advantages of SRS airbags include the following:
- It offers appropriate support to the head, neck, and spine during an accident, reducing the risk of serious injuries.
- Reduces the possibility of death during a vehicle collision
- In case of an injury, it lowers the impact by giving maximum protection to the passengers.
- It helps ensure that passengers can hardly be thrown out of the car during an accident.
The disadvantages of SRS airbags are as follows:
- Gases like nitrogen in the airbags can cause any fault in the SRS system to ignite flammable vehicle components, such as gasoline, endangering the passengers lives.
- In case the sensors don't work correctly and the airbag fails to inflate at the needed time, it can result in serious injuries or even death.
- The nylon used to make the airbag has a talcum powder coating that might cause respiratory issues for some travellers.
- Sometimes, as the airbag shoots suddenly at a higher speed of 200mph, it can cause severe injuries if a passenger is very close to the deployment panel.
Conclusion
SRS airbags are a crucial component of a car's safety system. They function efficiently together with the seatbelts to safeguard passengers during car collisions. The sole purpose of the supplemental restraint systems is to reduce the severity of injuries to the driver and other passengers during an accident. More so, it would be best to have an insurance policy that can cover the costs of possible damages during an accident.