The Traffic Accident Reconstruction Origin -ARnews-

Re: Air Bag Deployment

Gary Preston (gpreston@co.kenosha.wi.us)
Fri, 12 Dec 1997 16:39:48 -0500 (EST)

Just to put in my two cents worth, The PDOF must pass through two sensors, one of two in the front of the vehicle, then one of three near the fire wall. Should the angle of the thrust be eccentric enough, then the force may not pass through two sensors to complete the circuit. Rare in a 'T' bone accident, but if the difference is speeds is such to cause a sharp enough angle, (less than 21 degrees I believe) then the bag(s) do not deploy. Last case I handled involved a van pulling from a drive way (slow) and a vehicle going down the road (much quicker). The angle of the PDOF was such that the circuit was not completed.
Gary Preston
gpreston@co.kenosha.wi.us

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