What do airbags ideally work with to provide safety during a collision?

Airbags are designed to work in conjunction with seat belts to enhance the safety of vehicle occupants during a collision. When a crash occurs, seat belts restrain occupants, preventing them from being thrown forward or ejected from the vehicle. Airbags deploy to provide an additional layer of protection, cushioning the occupants from hard surfaces and reducing the risk of injury, particularly to the head and chest areas.

The interaction between seat belts and airbags is critical; the seat belt ensures that passengers are positioned properly for the airbag to be effective. If an occupant is not wearing a seat belt during a collision, the airbag may not deploy in a way that maximizes safety, leading to a greater risk of injury. Thus, using seat belts and airbags together significantly improves the overall effectiveness of vehicle safety systems.