CNET On Cars - Smarter driver: Rear seat airbags are on the way

Brian Cooley takes a look at the new place you're starting to see airbags pop up.

[KalanYore]

This an old technology that was used during Vietnam War as a safety feature for the 'Huey' UH-1 helicopters that was developed for pilots to deploy from their harness in the event of a crashed landing.
I do recall a documentary about airbags were first for public transportation use for automobiles as there was a historical reference going back to the Vietnam War that saw action for the Bell (Huey) aircraft variants. In that documentary was a comment made that if this technology was used back then put into cars would of saved many lives even in the light of the sustained facial & neck injuries and even some deaths resulted from deployment in a accident.
The most important note is for drivers to adjust their steering wheel so the angle deployment makes contact of both the upper torso and head...many times the angle is aimed at the chest below the neck or aimed directly at the head that these positions can cause injury or even death.
I have a warning sticker on my visor that reminds me of the proper adjustment...

[michaeldickens]

I just smashed in my ls 500 but I'd buy another any day of the week but omg it was horrible and it's in my shed I can't bear to get rid of it and it saved my life thank you lexus

[mornek]

I remember Nissan (Europe) toying with the idea of putting airbags for the back seat passengers in late 90s. I am surprised to find nothing on the internet about it. For a while, before merging with Renault, they were quite innovative about safety compared to other Japanese manufacturers. That back seat airbag innovation was a prototype ideal and I remember the dismissed it after figuring out that it may cause suffocation. If I remember it right, they design was similar to the one for the large cars in this video. Considering the prototype was fitted into mid-90s Sunny hatchback, it is no surprise. Still though, I wish they got some credit in it.

[polarisHO]

Most modern cars now all have panorama roofs or large moon roofs. Going to be interesting to see how they mount them and deploy them

[kellihillman]

Now everyone in the vehicle can get shards in their face...

[TomDeVito]

Airbags absoultley do save lives. But when they go off in your face after an accident it really makes you think about your next choice

[TheLanard]

Brian Cooley is not only one of the most credible reviewers in the game, he is the best dressed as well.  The man is always sharp.

[yes]

6 years later I haven’t seen em in any car except the new s class

[davidperry]

I am all about the inflating seat belts.

[hubertwalter]

its almost 2020 and there is still no car on the market with airbags for the rear passengers..

[Hurileno]

they should at least put a sensor in the chair to know if someone is there so if it should activate

[smuckerst]

Wait you have air bags in your car? I am screwed if I get in a crash even though I wear my seat belt

[randomyoutubevideos]

How long do you thing it will take to fix the air bag recall? The recall that will send metal scraps at you.

[paratrooper]

The problem is that Americans actually need to put on their seatbelts.

[TheMELTDOWN]

OCT 2021 WOW! TRW does not exist anymore, I know because I worked for them years ago, purchased by ZF then ZF sold our division.... anyway...no TRW no rear seat airbags in 2021.... SAD!

[marinarosa]

In Australia they should put airbags on seat belt

[gregorhorvat]

The problem is that people in big cars want a pano roof. If it has one where is the airbag going to be?

[rattatt]

Are coming in America in 2016 or this year?

[johnnythebagofair]

The fact I can get it right away with a lot more fun

[firealarmguy]

They say not to put a rear facing child seat in Front of an airbag. now they’re putting it in the rear seats. where are we supposed to put our kids? good idea but that is a big flaw that needs to be thought of