A8 Parts Forum  

Go Back   A8 Parts Forum > General Natter > Daily banter

Daily banter For everything, and anything that doesnt fit in elsewhere

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 20th August 2020, 06:26 PM
Johnmed's Avatar
Johnmed Johnmed is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 1,601
Default Airbags with older children. On or off?

Hi all. What is the consensus regarding older children when sitting in the front. Airbags activated or not?

I ask as my tall 9 year old son outgrew boosters a while back, and occasionally rides shotgun.

Up to now we’ve deactivated the passenger airbag, but I’ve given it some more thought of late and can’t find a definitive yay or nay online in the usual places.

All the best. John.
__________________
2010 A8 SE Executive 4.2 FSI D4

2007 Mini Cooper S R56

2008 D3, gone, but not forgotten after 9 years and 90k.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 20th August 2020, 07:36 PM
The_Laird's Avatar
The_Laird The_Laird is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Redmile: Leics, Notts, Lincs border - near Belvoir Castle
Posts: 5,069
Default

Not that I have any knowledge around this topic, but my common sense (which isn’t always reliable!) says why wouldn’t you use an air bag if the passenger is too big for a booster? Doesn’t that mean that he’s big enough for an air bag.

If he were my kid, I’d either activate the bag or sit him in the back.
__________________
2002 Final Edition S8. Ebony black with Silver Grey leather and myrtle wood trim.
Current mods: solar sun roof, 20mm rear spacers, 15 mm on front, red brembo callipers, 6k headlights, rear view camera, engine remap, alloy dash dial rings, alloy navi rings, tt/phaeton pedal upgrade, (and custom matching foot rest) dension ipod interface & parrot hands free kit (both fully hidden), av input, tv in motion switched thro' PF switch in blanking plug right of steering column, Audi 'quattro' sill covers, repositioned centre console switches, radio clock, .
Planned mods: auto-dimming rear view mirror, dash cam (as steamship's), fit the ski hatch, refit philips drl's (or maybe not - nope, definitely not - horrible botch!).
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 20th August 2020, 08:08 PM
Johnmed's Avatar
Johnmed Johnmed is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 1,601
Default

Hi. Good point.

I’ve read of airbags causing more harm than good with very short people, who typically sit closer to the things. There are recorded cases of airbags causing deaths in children.

Some time ago, I think I recall learning that airbags are designed for and are most effective for people around the average height.

But now I’m thinking if he has to sit in the front, because he and his sibling are being ‘very trying’ I will activate the airbag.
__________________
2010 A8 SE Executive 4.2 FSI D4

2007 Mini Cooper S R56

2008 D3, gone, but not forgotten after 9 years and 90k.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 20th August 2020, 08:19 PM
tonupkid's Avatar
tonupkid tonupkid is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Near Lichfield, Staffordshire
Posts: 2,245
Default

My understanding is that you would only disable the front passenger airbag in the event of placing a child in a child seat on the front seat. Especially those child seats that have the occupant facing backwards.
Apart from that there are issues with small people having their seats sufficiently forward so as to put them at risk in the event of an airbag deploying. This goes for both the driver and the passenger.
IIRC Audi recommend that front seat passengers have their seats as far rearward as possible. While, of course, being able to hold the top of the steering wheel and use the pedals.
__________________
A journey of a thousand+ (epic) miles, begins with a single step, (to the door of an 8). Lau Tzu
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 20th August 2020, 09:15 PM
HPsauce HPsauce is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Chilterns, almost over HS2!
Posts: 8,366
Default

I don't know about the D3 but I have a vague recollection of reading somewhere that the D2 passenger airbag was to the full size US non-seatbelt specification! I.E. designed to restrain/protect an adult NOT wearing a seat belt.

Anyway, I'd still follow the advice above, you ONLY (and MUST) disable the airbag when there's a rear-facing child seat installed. Not to do so is actually illegal.

As for risk, it's a balance. The airbag is a violent remedy than can cause some harm in extreme circumstances but is designed (and tested) to mitigate greater harm if it's not used. On balance I'd use it.
My Volvo is awash with the things; I just hope they're never needed, but I expect to be grateful for them if I do.

ROSPA is a bit ambiguous about forward-facing child seats with an airbag but NOT about anyone larger not in a child seat.
__________________
2003 D2 FL S8. Irish Green Pearl/Beige. Solar sunroof, auto-dim mirrors, electric rear seat functions, ski hatch retrofit; extended leather. Aftermarket DVB-T, reversing camera and full XCarlink (Bluetooth etc.).
2016 Volvo V40 T5 Cross Country (4WD) with ALL the toys including adaptive cruise etc. etc. Osmium Grey with Blonde/Charcoal leather interior. Polestar performance "optimisation". (A much rarer model than a D2 S8 by the way!) Oh, and a brand new engine at just under 30,000 miles on the factory one!
Finally: gone, but not forgotten.....
1998 D2 PF S8. AgateGrey/Platinum. Every option (I think) except electric rear seats, tiptronic steering wheel, ski hatch, towbar & dimming door mirrors.
e.g. Cruise control, NavPlus/TV, Bose, GSM, Xenons, Solar roof, Parking sensors, Alcantara/leather everywhere of course. (internal dimming mirror added later)
1998 (very early) Ford Focus 1.8 Zetec; ABS/TCS, Heated screen/mirrors, Aircon, Auto-dim mirror, Leather, Trip computer, Cruise control, OEM Ford SatNav with CD changer.
And before that a lot of Rover 800s, a few oddities, a lovely Triumph Dolomite 1850HL with Overdrive and way back in my schooldays an Austin Seven aka Mini 850!

Last edited by HPsauce; 20th August 2020 at 09:25 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 20th August 2020, 09:28 PM
Adrian E's Avatar
Adrian E Adrian E is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Gatwick area
Posts: 4,051
Default

I have some professional knowledge on this subject, albeit somewhat out of date as I've not worked on child restraints or airbags for a good 10 years....

Passenger airbags in the front aren't strictly necessary - they came about through marketing and demand for 'equal' protection to the driver (ignoring the fact that the driver has a steering wheel in front of them that will do them serious harm if you interact with it in an accident!). We've since moved on in terms of protection and for an adult they do offer a potential benefit if the accident is centred on the passenger side of the car. Side airbags are a significant benefit.

Posts above are correct that with any kind of child restraint in the front, switching it off is a good idea, as the child restraint will inevitably sit nearer the airbag than an adult occupying the same seat. It absolutely must be off if the child restraint is rear facing, as an airbag going off in those circumstances is very likely to do serious harm.

I'm in a similar position to John, in that my 10 year old has outgrown all classes of child restraint - in our S5 it got to the point he was sitting in it in the back with his head kinked over to one side as it was making his head hit the roof of the car!

He recently went down to the West Country with my wife to visit his granny in our Golf. He sat in the front so he could see better and deal with music selection for my wife. I switched off the airbag, because the one thing I can't guarantee he wouldn't be doing in the event of an accident is leaning forward to pick something up off the floor, or reaching into the glovebox. Assuming he's not doing those things, the airbag won't actually help anyway, but if he is it's quite likely to do him harm.

Risk management is a very personal thing, so I would never criticise someone for making a different choice, based on their own circumstances and knowing their own child

Adrian
__________________
===SOLD===2002 Audi S8 D2 Final Edition (yes, really) in Avus Silver with purple extended leather===SOLD===

2011 S5 Sportback in Phantom Black with black Super Sports leather, 9x20s, tech pack high, adaptive xenon plus, intelligent key, memory seats pack, sunroof, B&O, Audi Drive Select & quattro Sports Diff, DAB, parking system plus

2015 VW Golf GTI Performance Pack in Carbon Grey with black Vienna leather, tech pack (Discovery Pro nav & Dynaudio), DCC, factory towbar and retrofit RVC
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 21st August 2020, 08:12 AM
David's8's Avatar
David's8 David's8 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Helensburgh, Scotland
Posts: 3,506
Default

Do you ACTUALLY allow children in your '8???
__________________
2002 D2 S8 – Ming Blue, Valcona leather, Vavona wood insert, solar sunroof (to be fitted), Heated rear seats, extended leather pack, 18” Avus, ski hatch, Bose, auto dim rear view mirror, rear blind.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 21st August 2020, 10:15 AM
tonupkid's Avatar
tonupkid tonupkid is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Near Lichfield, Staffordshire
Posts: 2,245
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by David's8 View Post
Do you ACTUALLY allow children in your '8???
David. Children are our future. Without them this forum will grow ever more irascible, and when the last of us hangs up the noble key there will be no one else to care for these magnificent pieces of engineering.
I'd suggest it is your duty to share the message with the younger generation. Perhaps you could start by offering lifts to random passing youngsters
__________________
A journey of a thousand+ (epic) miles, begins with a single step, (to the door of an 8). Lau Tzu
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 21st August 2020, 11:28 AM
David's8's Avatar
David's8 David's8 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Helensburgh, Scotland
Posts: 3,506
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by tonupkid View Post
David. Children are our future. Without them this forum will grow ever more irascible, and when the last of us hangs up the noble key there will be no one else to care for these magnificent pieces of engineering.
I'd suggest it is your duty to share the message with the younger generation. Perhaps you could start by offering lifts to random passing youngsters
I tried out your advice immediately in the spirit that you suggested and am now typing this from the backseat of a Police car. I notice that that quality of the Constabularies' vehicles is, sadly, not the same as my 8 and also carries a distinct smell of vomit - probably the result of carrying a member of the "younger generation".....
__________________
2002 D2 S8 – Ming Blue, Valcona leather, Vavona wood insert, solar sunroof (to be fitted), Heated rear seats, extended leather pack, 18” Avus, ski hatch, Bose, auto dim rear view mirror, rear blind.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 21st August 2020, 11:42 AM
Adrian E's Avatar
Adrian E Adrian E is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Gatwick area
Posts: 4,051
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by David's8 View Post
Do you ACTUALLY allow children in your '8???
It was my excuse for buying my S8 in the first place (it was the perfect answer to the question 'what's the stupidest/least appropriate car with a V8 I can buy for less than £10k, on the basis it'll make a brilliant kiddy chariot')

My wife never bought in to this argument......
__________________
===SOLD===2002 Audi S8 D2 Final Edition (yes, really) in Avus Silver with purple extended leather===SOLD===

2011 S5 Sportback in Phantom Black with black Super Sports leather, 9x20s, tech pack high, adaptive xenon plus, intelligent key, memory seats pack, sunroof, B&O, Audi Drive Select & quattro Sports Diff, DAB, parking system plus

2015 VW Golf GTI Performance Pack in Carbon Grey with black Vienna leather, tech pack (Discovery Pro nav & Dynaudio), DCC, factory towbar and retrofit RVC
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 01:11 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.0
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.