Ever see the slow motion test dummy crashes they show on TV? The bag hits in
the chest and his head falls forward into it like a pillow as the shoulder
strap ratchet releases (as it is designed to do). In no way does the bag
contact the head or face before full inflation.
ONE MORE TIME:
The SCCA cited study was one done to test the effectiveness of a SPECIALLY
DESIGNED EXPERIMENTAL airbag installed in the steering wheel of a FORMULA 1
racer in protecting the driver from a fatal neck injury in a 200+ mph head
on crash into a wall !!! A FORMULA 1 driver's head is DIRECTLY IN LINE with
his steering wheel, and the bag was designed to PUSH HIS HEAD BACK against
the headrest with ENOUGH FORCE to counter the 200 - 0 mph instantanious
crash G's. It had ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with passenger car airbags, or
OPEN VS CLOSED faced helmets. The fact is in the context of this study a
fractured jaw was considered a ACCEPTABLE outcome over a fatal spinal cord
injury like killed Dale Earnhart. That study in no way shape or form
recommended the discontinuation of using closed faced helmets, nor even
considered the use of open faced helmets since they are banned in F1.
Now, if you still don't believe this SCCA advisory is a half baked knee jerk
reaction to one line taken out of context, I suggest you go back up in this
message to "ONE MORE TIME:" and read it again, slowly! Sheeesh!
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeff S. Cashmore" <cashmo@cashmo.org>
To: <autox@Autox.Team.Net>
Sent: Friday, November 19, 2004 11:17 PM
Subject: Re: Potential new helmet rule would affect autocrossers
> In the interest of showing some of you who haven't seen an air bag
> inflate...
>
> http://www.highwaysafety.org/video/stabgmo.mov = 1 mb
> http://www.dariusrudis.com/videos/vipercrash.mpeg = 3 mb
>
> Jeff
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