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Virginia driving lesson · Seat Belts, Air Bags & Child Safety Seats

Air Bags

A 2-minute lesson from the Virginia course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

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Read time
2 minutes
Course unit
Seat Belts, Air Bags & Child Safety Seats
Checkpoint questions
5
Source pages
29

Air bags work with seat belts, not instead of them. In a front-end crash they cushion you as you move forward, keeping your head, neck and chest off the steering column or dashboard and reducing the force of impact. Sitting too close can turn that cushion into a hazard.

Know the rule

Air bags protect best when used properly with safety belts.

Handbook p. 29 ↗

If your vehicle has air bags:

  • Always buckle up, and have all passengers buckle up
  • Move your seat back so you're at least ten inches from the steering wheel
  • Tilt an adjustable steering wheel downward, aiming the air bag at your chest, not your head and neck
  • Children ages 12 and under are safer buckled up in the back seat
Handbook p. 29 ↗
10 inches

Minimum distance between you and the steering wheel

Handbook p. 29 ↗
12 and under

Ages of children who are safer buckled up in the back seat

Handbook p. 29 ↗

Know the rule

Tilting the wheel down points the air bag toward your chest instead of your head and neck.

Handbook p. 29 ↗

Know the rule

For air bag information, including applying for an on/off switch, contact NHTSA at www.nhtsa.dot.gov or 1-800-424-9393.

Handbook p. 29 ↗

Put it into practice

You're short and like to sit close to the wheel. Move the seat back until your chest is at least ten inches from it, and tilt the wheel down so the air bag aims at your chest.

Check your understanding

Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.

Air bags are designed to work together with what other safety feature?
  1. Safety belts
  2. Headrests only
  3. Crumple zones
  4. Anti-lock brakes

Answer: Safety belts

Air bags, when used properly with safety belts, cushion drivers and passengers in a front-end crash.

Handbook p. 29 ↗
How far back should you position your seat if your vehicle has air bags?
  1. At least two inches from the steering wheel
  2. At least ten inches from the steering wheel
  3. As close as possible to the steering wheel
  4. At least six inches from the steering wheel

Answer: At least ten inches from the steering wheel

Move your seat back so that you are at least ten inches from the steering wheel.

Handbook p. 29 ↗
If your steering wheel is adjustable, which direction should you tilt it for air bag safety?
  1. Upward, toward your face
  2. It does not matter which direction
  3. Downward, toward your chest
  4. Fully horizontal

Answer: Downward, toward your chest

Tilt an adjustable steering wheel downward so the air bag points toward your chest instead of your head and neck.

Handbook p. 29 ↗
Where are children ages 12 and under safest riding in a vehicle with air bags?
  1. In the front seat, properly buckled
  2. In a booster seat in the front seat
  3. Anywhere, as long as air bags are present
  4. Buckled up in the back seat

Answer: Buckled up in the back seat

Children ages 12 and under are safer buckled up in the back seat.

Handbook p. 29 ↗
Air bags reduce the force of impact by keeping the head, neck, and chest from hitting the steering column or dashboard.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: True

By cushioning occupants, air bags keep the head, neck, and chest from hitting the steering column or dashboard.

Handbook p. 29 ↗
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