What do air bags do in a vehicle during a collision?

Airbags are crucial safety features designed to deploy during a collision to protect vehicle occupants from injury. When a crash occurs, the airbags inflate rapidly and create a cushion between the occupant and hard surfaces in the vehicle, such as the dashboard and steering wheel. This helps absorb the impact energy, reducing the risk of serious injuries to the head, neck, and chest. The deployment of airbags is part of a vehicle's supplemental restraint system, which works alongside seat belts to enhance passenger safety.

The function of airbags is specifically to offer cushioning in the event of a collision, illustrating their primary purpose as protective devices.