What happens when airbags go off?

Didn't know where to post this but figured the motoring group was best.

You know you have an airbag in the steering wheel etc.

When it goes off what happens to its cover that says 'Airbag' on it?

Does that hit you in the face before the bag does? Or does it flip down?

Just driving the other day and it crossed my mind.

I believe it just gets blown in to the body of the car, so duck.

And if the windows are shut and your car is reasonably 'sealed', with some airbags you may also end up with a ruptured eardrum.

The vinyl that covers the airbag has a built in weakness around three of its sides, so on deployment the stronger side forms a hinge, leaving the vinyl attached to the steering wheel/dashboard...

The vinyl that covers the airbag has a built in weakness around three of its sides, so on deployment the stronger side forms a hinge, leaving the vinyl attached to the steering wheel/dashboard...

That's a relief!

I have to say that when I once saw a steering wheel after deployment, the whole panel was gone so I'm pleased to be proved wrong!

If you have a look at the steering wheel/part of the dash where the airbag is located you'll oftern see a "fault line". They can look like part of the styling, but they're designed to fail when the bag goes off - no flying panels in your face!

just make sure your arms aren't crossed on the wheel when it deploys

Thanks for the replies, but can't see any of those things.

Also my horn buttons seem to be built into the panel that says 'airbag'.

It's a relatively new Vectra BTW.