How far should the steering wheel be kept away from you to allow airbags to deploy safely and properly?

How far should the steering wheel be kept away from you to allow airbags to deploy safely and properly?

• A. 8 inches
• B. 10 inches
• C. 12 inches
• D. 14 inches

Answer: (B)

Airbags inflate with intense force, so you need enough space for the bag to deploy into your chest rather than collide with your face or neck. The recommended distance is about 10 inches from your chest to the steering wheel. At this distance, the airbag can fully inflate and provide proper protection for the torso while minimizing facial or upper-body injury from the deploying bag. Sitting much closer (around 8 inches) increases the risk of injury from the bag striking your face or neck, while sitting much farther (12–14 inches) may reduce the airbag’s effectiveness in protecting the chest. So, about 10 inches is the best target. Adjust your seat and steering wheel to maintain roughly that distance for safe deployment.

Airbags inflate with intense force, so you need enough space for the bag to deploy into your chest rather than collide with your face or neck. The recommended distance is about 10 inches from your chest to the steering wheel. At this distance, the airbag can fully inflate and provide proper protection for the torso while minimizing facial or upper-body injury from the deploying bag. Sitting much closer (around 8 inches) increases the risk of injury from the bag striking your face or neck, while sitting much farther (12–14 inches) may reduce the airbag’s effectiveness in protecting the chest. So, about 10 inches is the best target. Adjust your seat and steering wheel to maintain roughly that distance for safe deployment.