Location: Fresno, CA
Posts: 237
My VIN: 10353
Location: Florida: Pinellas County
Posts: 2,110
My VIN: 5003 Never placed Concourse
Club(s): (DCF)
Just be thankful the airbags never made it into production. By now they'd surely be going off in your face while you're innocently driving down the road, like some Volvo 780 Bertone airbags do (due to sitting & water intrusion - does that sound familiar?).
-----Dan B.
Location: Northern NJ
Posts: 8,581
My VIN: 10757 1st place Concourse 1998
My point exactly but in addition DMC would have to have Product Liability insurance to cover any problems. That one thing, never mind all of the testing required, is a killer. In today's litigious world insurance can be ruinous. A person who would have died but for the airbag, and gets some non-life threatening injuries, will sue for millions. It is usually cheaper when they die. In the early days of airbags people got terrible leg injuries in crashes that previously would have killed them. Automakers had to redesign the cars to prevent those injuries. Another case of the Law of Unintended Consequences. Wait till you see self driving cars. Less people will die but it won't prevent every death. The lawyers will reap huge benefits though.
David Teitelbaum
Location: Sacramento-ish
Posts: 4,408
My VIN: 02100
Club(s): (NCDMC) (DCUK)
Hey guys, I just ran across these pics. It looks like someone may have already taken the initiative on this project. The fit and finish... leaves something to be desired... but the branding is on point and I have no doubts at all that the safety of the implementation is top-rate.
Check it out - dual front and even side airbags! Sign me up
Jon
1981 DMC-12 #02100. July 1981. 5-speed, black, grooved w/flap.
restoration log, March 2011 to present
full and detailed photo restoration log
Location: Northern NJ
Posts: 8,581
My VIN: 10757 1st place Concourse 1998
The actual installation of the hardware is not the problem. As has been pointed out, it is the software and how and when the airbags get deployed that is the crux of the problem. Without a LOT of design engineering and testing to validate it you could be adversely affecting safety, not improving it. Inside the airbag is is essentially a rocket motor and the exhaust is contained by the bag. If it was to go off inadvertently it can cause injuries, not prevent them. For those who are safety conscious the diligent use of seat belts is your best bet for survival in a crash even if the car has airbags. If the airbags go off and you are not restrained into position the airbag can kill you or you could be ejected from the car cutting your chances of survival greatly. Airbags are not a substitute for seatbelts, only an enhancement to help reduce injuries. If you won't drive in a car without airbags then you should probably sell your Delorean.
David Teitelbaum
Location: Sacramento-ish
Posts: 4,408
My VIN: 02100
Club(s): (NCDMC) (DCUK)
Jon
1981 DMC-12 #02100. July 1981. 5-speed, black, grooved w/flap.
restoration log, March 2011 to present
full and detailed photo restoration log
Location: Florida: Pinellas County
Posts: 2,110
My VIN: 5003 Never placed Concourse
Club(s): (DCF)
That looks very scary to me.
-----Dan B.
Location: Sacramento-ish
Posts: 4,408
My VIN: 02100
Club(s): (NCDMC) (DCUK)
Jon
1981 DMC-12 #02100. July 1981. 5-speed, black, grooved w/flap.
restoration log, March 2011 to present
full and detailed photo restoration log