Airbags are designed to deploy during what type of collision?

Airbags are primarily designed to deploy during a frontal collision, which occurs when the front of the vehicle strikes another object. The purpose of airbags is to provide an additional layer of protection for occupants by cushioning the impact and reducing the likelihood of serious injury to the head and upper body.

In frontal collisions, the forces exerted on the vehicle and its occupants are usually the most severe, making it essential for airbags to activate in order to mitigate these effects. The system uses sensors to detect the impact and trigger the deployment of the airbags within milliseconds.

While airbags may also provide some level of protection in side collisions or rear collisions, they are specifically engineered to address the dynamics and risks associated with frontal impacts. This specialized design is what differentiates them from other safety features, such as side airbags, which are specifically meant to deploy in side-impact situations.