Re: At what speed do airbags go off in an accident?

"^Tems^" <brookersteve913@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message 
news:4828e87b$0$22174$5a62ac22@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>I went to have a look at a Mondeo for parts that had rear ended a bus.
> The guy said his niece had hit the bus at around 60 k's. Strange thing
was 
> the airbags hadn't gone off. Do they have a set speed they go off or
could 
> it have been disconnected?
>
> This is the damage to the vehicle
>
> http://i8.ebayimg.com/06/i/000/ef/9b/eacf_1.JPG
> http://i20.ebayimg.com/08/i/000/ef/9d/0571_1.JPG

I believe it's supposed to be 40kph for Australia but, as other people
have 
pointed out, it's more to do with the rate of decelleration.

Looking at your pics it's clear the bus impacted above the bumper where
the 
impact sensors are located and the decelleration was not as rapid as it 
could have been in most normal accidents.

If that was a 60kph accident I would have expected the damage to extend
all 
the way back to the windscreen. As it only extends half way along the 
bonnet/hood I'd estimate a speed of approximately 30kph. 60kph is most 
likely where the driver panicked and stood on the brakes, not the impact 
speed.