Inflatable safety devices in vehicles that rapidly deploy during collisions to cushion occupants from impact. They are typically stored in the steering wheel, dashboard, or side panels.
Compound of 'air' from Old English æġer and 'bag' from Old Norse baggi meaning sack. The term emerged in the 1960s when automotive safety systems began incorporating inflatable restraint technology.
The first airbag patent was actually filed in 1953, but it took nearly 20 years for the technology to become reliable enough for mass production. Modern cars can have up to 10 different airbags, including knee airbags and curtain airbags that protect against side impacts.
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