Airbags in cars activating (chest, feeling, cause, 2014)

[Jo48]

My husband is getting a Pacemaker and Defibulator. He has been told that he cannot drive for two weeks afterwards. He was also told that he cannot sit in the Passenger Seat of a car either because in a crash the airbag would crush his chest and damage the devices.

I laughed at this. When I sit in the Passenger Seat of a car, the Air bags are not activated for me probably because I weigh under 100 lbs. Um, this goes back to decades old cars to brand new 2018 ones. When I drive myself, are the airbags enabled?

Don't know if this belongs in this site, but I am very curious. If as a passenger in car an air bag isn't activated for me, would it be as a driver?

[North Beach Person]

Originally Posted by Jo48

My husband is getting a Pacemaker and Defibulator. He has been told that he cannot drive for two weeks afterwards. He was also told that he cannot sit in the Passenger Seat of a car either because in a crash the airbag would crush his chest and damage the devices.

I laughed at this. When I sit in the Passenger Seat of a car, the Air bags are not activated for me probably because I weigh under 100 lbs. Um, this goes back to decades old cars to brand new 2018 ones. When I drive myself, are the airbags enabled?

Don't know if this belongs in this site, but I am very curious. If as a passenger in car an air bag isn't activated for me, would it be as a driver?

The passenger seat is the one that has a cut out if the seat isn't occupied. The driver's side would not disable (one reason they did that was to lessen the damage of both airbags going off and totaling the car).

Having said that, modern cars going back at least maybe a decade and a half (my 2003 F150 had a key switch that allowed me to disable the passenger side, my 2014 has a sensor in the seat that turns on the bag when someone sits in it as does Mrs. NBP's 2010 Forester) have depowered airbags that don't inflate with the force early ones did.

I would have the cardiologist confirm that he can't ride in the passenger seat, I have the feeling that's for the two weeks he can't drive.

[wit-nit]

Air bag or no air bag your husband would be better off in the rear seat. If you had and accident or sudden braking and he hit the dashboard that could be catastrophic. At least in the rear seats he'd have a better chance if he hit the front seat if not belted in.

[Mikala43]

The driver's side air bags are always active, and your husband needs to ride in the back.

[charmed hour]

https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.do..._july_1997.pdf

The NHTSA says it’s safe to be in the passenger seat.