Which One is the Driver Side Airbag?

[DelEmilio]

Driver side airbag is located on the outer side of the seat, designed to mitigate injuries caused by side impacts. In the event of a lateral collision, the side airbag can reduce physical injuries such as fractures resulting from direct contact between the rear passenger's arm/ribs near the door and the door panel. The airbag system is a passive safety protection system that, when used in conjunction with seat belts, provides effective collision protection for occupants. During vehicle collisions, car airbags can reduce head injury rates by 25% and facial injury rates by approximately 80%. The airbag system mainly consists of airbag sensors, collision airbags, and electronic control devices.

[DallasRose]

I've been a taxi driver for over a decade. See that raised part right in the center of the steering wheel? Under that plastic panel marked with AIRBAG or SRS logo lies the driver's airbag. This thing is designed with extreme precision – it must be integrated with the steering wheel as one piece, otherwise the fragments would fly everywhere when deployed, making it even more dangerous. I remember once stopping a young guy from sticking rhinestones on his steering wheel – in a real crash, those gems would become bullets. The crucial point is that airbags must work in tandem with seatbelts. Without the seatbelt, the body moves forward too fast, and the airbag might not inflate completely in time.

[LaJosephine]

As a professional who frequently disassembles and assembles auto parts, I can definitively say the driver's airbag assembly is integrated into the steering wheel frame. What you see as the horn cover is actually the airbag cover, behind which lies the folded airbag cushion, inflator, and control unit. It's particularly important to note that you should not install phone mounts at the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions, as this can interfere with the airbag deployment trajectory. It's recommended to inspect the airbag system every eight years. Some older vehicles have expired airbag recalls that go unaddressed, and this hazard is far more serious than engine failures.

[OKaleb]

I recently learned during a child traffic safety class that the driver's airbag position is determined through millions of crash tests. When adults sit in the driver's seat, the airbag deploys toward the chest area, but it's dangerous for children in the front seat—the airbag would directly hit their head and neck. So I insist on three rules when teaching kids about car safety: children under 12 shouldn't sit in the front without a car seat, car seats must be rear-facing, and absolutely no holding infants in the front passenger seat. By the way, don't use corrosive cleaners when washing the steering wheel, as they may damage the airbag cover's tear lines.